University  of  California  •  Berkeley 

Purchased  from 

ALEXANDER  GOLDSTEIN 

MEMORIAL  FUND 


Three  Years  and  a  Half 
in  the  Army; 


OR, 


HISTORY  OF  Tim  SECOND  COLORADOS. 


BY 


MRS.    ELLEN     WILLIAMS, 

ALLERTON,  IOWA, 

"  Co.  A."  Second  Colorado  Cavalry. 


NEW  YORK: 

Published  for  the  Author  by 

FOWLER  &  WELLS   COMPANY, 

753  BROADWAY. 


COPYRIGHT,  1885, 
BY  ELLEN  WILLIAMS. 


PRBFACE. 


In  placing  this  work  before  the  public  the 
author  has  but  one  aim ;  that  is,  to  give  to  the 
Soldiers  of  Colorado  a  record  which  shall  impart 
pleasure  to  themselves,  their  f amilies  and  friends  ; 
the  reading  of  it  will  take  them  over  the  same 
ground  again,  through  the  same  hardships,  show 
ing  their  powers  of  endurance,  of  bravery  and 
valor  ;  bringing  to  mind  no  doubt  much  of  per 
sonal  knowledge  which  the  author  could  not 
reach,  hence  it  is  missing,  but  she  trusts  they 
will  grant  she  has  done  the  best  possible  with 
the  means  at  command,  trying  to  make  it  an 
interesting,  truthful  account  of  brave  acts  and 
deeds,  with  all  reverance,  respect  and  kindness 
for  the  soldiers  of  Colorado  whose  hardships  with 
her  husband  she  shared. 

ELLEN  WILLIAMS. 


THREE  YEARS  AND  A  HALF  IN  THE  ARMY ; 

OR, 

HISTORY  OF  THE  SECOND  COLORADOS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

In  the  summer  of  eighteen  hundred  and  sixty, 
to  any  one  taking  a  bird's-eye  view  of  the  differ 
ent  mining  districts  of  Colorado,  it  bore  much 
the  appearance  of  a  bee-hive. 

The  mountains  were  perforated  with  holes  in 
which  were  at  work  a  countless  number  of 
men.  And  as  they  moved  in  and  out  they 
resembled  the  busy  insect. 

The  work  went  on  day  by  day ;  to  some 
Dame  Fortune  gave  favors ;  to  some  disappoint 
ment.  Now  and  then  an  excitement  of  new  dis 
coveries  disturbed  the  regular  routine  of  labor. 

And  the  arrival  of  the  mail  from  the  States 
with  news  from  home  sometimes  made  slight 
changes. 

Soon  that  event  began  to  be  one  of  intense 
interest,  the  papers  contained  accounts  of  trouble, 
and  later  the  cry  flew  like  wildfire,  war  is  de 
clared. 


2  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Then  followed  the  sound  of  fife  and  drum. 
Recruiting  officers  were  to  be  found  in  every 
available  point,  and  men  flocked  to  the  standard 
of  their  country,  and  enlisted  to  aid  in  putting 
down  the  enemy.  When  this  great  rebellion 
broke  out,  the  shock  was  felt,  not  only  in  the 
immediate  locality  of  the  outbreak,  but  extended 
all  over  the  continent,  from  the  Atlantic  to  the 
Pacific  coast. 

The  echo  of  the  first  gun  fired  on  Sumpter  had 
scarcely  died  away,  when  the  loyal  men  of  the 
loyal  States  and  Territories  rose  in  their  might, 
and  asked  to  be  led  against  the  "invaders  of 
peace  and  enemies  of  free  institutions."  Con- 
spicious  among  that  number  was  the  Territory  of 
Colorado.  Although  but  a  child  in  years,  and 
separated  from  the  States  by  a  vast  sandy  plain  ; 
with  a  population  composed  of  all  classes,  repre 
senting  almost  every  State  and  Government  on 
the  Globe,  yet  the  great  heart  of  her  people  throb 
bed  with  loyal  pulsation,  and  loyal  blood  coursed 
through  her  every  vein.  When  the  war  was 
forced  upon  her  by  the  rebels,  true  to  her  allegi 
ance  to  the  Government  of  the  United  States, 
Colorado  called  the  roll  of  loyalty  and  honor,  and 
a  thousand  brave  hearts  and  willing  hands  came 
up  and  answered  to  their  names,  exchanging 
"  Pick  and  Shovel"  for  the  "  Sword  and  Bayonet," 
and  marched  forth  to  meet  the  rebel  hordes  that 
were  over-running  and  desolating  the  fair  and 
wealthy  soil  of  Texas  and  New  Mexico,  and 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  3 

threatening  even  Colorado  herself.  How  well 
the  work  was  done,  may  readily  be  ascertained 
by  pointing  to  the  bloody  battle-fields  of  Valverde, 
Pigeon's  Ranche,  Apache  Canon,  etc. ,  where  the 
soldiers  of  Colorado,  assisted  by  a  portion  of  the 
New  Mexican  forces  under  General  Canby,  met 
and  signally  defeated  the  rebels  under  the  notori 
ous  Sibley,  driving  them  like  chaff  before  the 
wind,  thus  rescuing  from  their  unhallowed  grasp 
the  fertile  soil  of  New  Mexico,  and  the  rich  gold 
deposits  of  Colorado,  a  prize  they  strongly  covet 
ed,  and  a  project  in  which  had  they  succeeded, 
would  have  blasted  her  prospects  perhaps  for  years 
to  come.  For  even  a  small  force  in  the  moun 
tains,  and  well  acquainted  with  the  passes  and 
fastnesses,  could  have  kept  at  bay  and  bid  defi 
ance  to  an  army  ten  times  their  superior  in  point 
of  numbers,  and  have  proved  a  serious  obstacle 
for  the  already  heavily  burdened,  although  "not 
exhausted,"  government  in  crushing  out  the  most 
gigantic  rebellion  on  record. 

The  ranks  of  the  Second  Colorado  Kegiment 
were  composed  of  the  hardy  miners,  inured  to  toil 
and  privation,  with  but  little  experience  in  the  art 
of  war,  and  that  little  confined,  at  first,  princi 
pally  to  the  two  Independant  Companies,  A  and 
B.  These  two  companies  were  organized  in  the 
fall  of  '61,  and  mustered  into  service  under  Cap 
tain  Ford,  afterward  Colonel  of  the  regiment  of 
which  these  two  companies  became  a  part,  and 
Captain  Dodd,  afterward  Lieutenant- Colonel. 


4  HISTORY  OF  THE 

About  the  first  of  December,  Company  B,  and  a 
few  days  after,  Company  A,  received  marching 
orders  to  report  in  Fort  Garland,  New  Mexico, 
there  to  be  mustered  into  the  service  of  the 
United  States.  Accordingly,  after  a  few  days  of 
marching  through  the  valleys  and  over  the  moun 
tains,  we  reached  the  garrison,  then  in  command 
of  Major  Whiting,  of  the  regular  United  States 
army.  There  was  but  little  worth  recording 
during  the  march,  save  the  fact  that  we  passed  a 
Mexican  lying  by  the  roadside,  who  had  been  dead 
several  weeks,  yet  the  body  was  as  perfect  as  if 
but  sleeping,  even  the  eyes,  which  were  open, 
were  plump  and  full,  and  although  wolves, 
panthers,  wild-cats,  bears,  and  other  ferocious 
animals  were  plenty  there,  the  body  had  never 
been  touched,  which  to  us  was  a  source  of  sur 
prise.  On  inquiry,  we  were  informed  the  man 
had  shot  an  American  and  in  turn  was  shot,  and 
our  informant  added,  "nothing  will  eat  a  Mexi 
can."  And  so  it  seemed. 

The  two  companies  were  duly  mustered  in  and 
put  on  duty  in  the  garrison  to  await  further  orders. 
As  horses  could  not  be  procured  just  then  they  took 
their  place  as  infantry,  doing  duty  in  turn  with  the 
regular  soldiers  already  stationed  there. 

Major  Whiting,  the  officer  in  command  of  Fort 
Garland,  was  one  of  the  regular  army,  and  decid 
edly  rigid,  anything  out  of  the  old  military  order 
greatly  annoyed  him.  As  recruiting  had  been  such 
a  sud,den  event  it  had  been  impossible  to  procure 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  5 

military  clothing  fast  enough,  and  so  the  raw  re 
cruit  was  easily  known  there  by  the  mixture  of  his 
garments,  part  citizen,  part  soldier.  Among  other 
things,  overcoats  were  scarce  articles ;  expecting 
to  get  them  at  the  Fort,  and  fine  weather  when 
leaving  Canon  City  did  not  show  their  necessity. 
One  cold  grey  overcoat  was  all  company  A  could 
muster.  At  one  corner  of  the  garrison,  where  a 
guard  had  to  walk  his  beat,  it  was  extremely  cold, 
a  draft  cutting  through  all  the  time,  consequently 
the  old  grey  coat  was  called  into  requisition,  to  the 
infinite  disgust  of  the  Major,  who  turned  to  the 
Orderly,  Pat  Ford,  asking  him  if  the  same  man 
was  always  on  guard,  and  received  for  answer, 
"No,  be  jabers,  but  the  same  coat  kivers  the 
whole  company  now." 

THE    MAJOR'S    LAMENT. 

'Tis  there  when  the  moon  so  pale  and  still 
Is  throwing  its  beams  o'er  the  murmuring  rill, 
'Tis  there  when  the  morning  sun's  bright  sheen 
On  each  mountain  top  is  seen. 

'Tis  there  by  night,  'tis  there  by  day, 
The  same  old  coat  of  dusky  grey, 
Its  patches  too,  I  do  declare, 
It  is  the  same,  'tis  always  there. 

Wher'er  I  look  the  guard  in  sight 

Is  bearing  that  hideous  grey  old  fright, 

'Tis  surely  ominous  of  ill, 

It  sends  through  me  a  nervous  thrill. 

At  midnight  when  all  others  rest 
My  mind  by  dreams  is  sore  opprest, 


HISTORY  OF  THE 

I  wake  and  murmur  in  despair 
That  same  grey  coat  is  always  there. 

I  wish  some  pitying  soul  would  take 
That  coat  and  burn  it  for  my  sake, 
Or  cast  its  shreds  to  the  winds  of  heaven, 
The  act  I  am  sure  would  be  forgiven. 

ANSWER. 

That  coat  has  proved  the  friend  indeed, 
Look  kindly  on  our  friend  in  need, 
That  same  old  coat,  through  wind  and  storm, 
Hath  many  a  heart  kept  warm. 

The  soldier  cold,  and  sparsely  clad, 
E'en  of  the  old  grey  coat  was  glad, 
Then  scorn  it  not,  though  worn  and  grey, 
Nor  throw  the  soldier's  friend  away. 


SECOND  COLORADOS. 


CHAPTEE  n. 

Scarcely  had  the  companies  began  to  learn  the 
ways  of  garrison  life,  ere  reports  came  to  the 
effect  that  the  rebels  were  marching  from  Texas 
on  to  Mexico  and  Colorado,  taking  all  garrisons 
on  the  route,  thus  supplying  themselves  with 
arms,  clothing,  etc.,  and,  as  many  joined  them, 
it  was  giving  them  strength  and  encouragement. 
Simultaneously  came  the  order  for  Co.  B  to  report 
at  Santa  Fe,  in  New  Mexico,  and  from  thence 
were  hurried  on  to  Fort  Craig,  to  join  the  forces 
there  under  General  Canby,  where  the  enemy 
were  daily  expected.  None  too  soon  did  they 
arrive,  as  a  desperate  encounter  took  place  which 
resulted  in  great  loss  to  the  enemy,  and  some  to 
the  troops  under  General  Canby.  The  rebels 
there  met  a  class  of  men  who  gave  them  reason 
to  be  less  sanguine  than  they  had  been.  Com 
pany  B  were  dauntless  and  brave,  and  with 
Lieutenant  Dodd  on  the  lead  they  presented  a 
solid  breast  to  the  enemy,  meeting  the  lancers  as 
they  came,  each  man  with  his  bayonet  unhorsed 
the  on-coming  foe.  The  enemy  were  repulsed 
and  badly  demoralized.  The  battle  of  Valverde, 
New  Mexico,  took  place  on  the  twenty-first  of 
February,  1862.  Company  B,  of  the  Second 


8  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Colorado,  made  one  out  of  five  companies  to 
support  McRea's  Battery,  and  afterward  rein 
forced  Colonel  Roberts,  in  each  place  grandly 
performing  their  duty.  Two  men  were  killed  and 
several  were  wounded.  The  battle  of  Valverde 
was  a  fierce  and  desperate  fight.  Much  blood 
was  shed  on  both  sides;  it  left  many  wounded, 
dying  and  dead.  In  the  battle  General  Canby 
showed  himself  the  brave,  considerate  commander 
and  after  it  was  over,  as  he  wTent  through  the 
ranks  of  the  wounded,  he  wept  as  only  a  comrade 
would  who  loved  his  fellow  soldier ;  a  truly  noble 
man  he  was.  Meanwhile  the  report  of  the  enemy 
below  came  to  Fort  Garland  as  fast  as  mule 
dispatches  could  bear  it,  and  with  it  orders  for 
Company  A,  of  the  Second  Colorado  (of  which  my 
husband  was  bugler),  to  march  as  soon  as  pos 
sible,  and  report  at  Santa  Fe,  in  New  Mexico,  for 
further  orders.  Accordingly,  on  the  fourth  day 
of  February,  drawing  ten  days'  rations,  Company 
A,  with  Captain  Ford  in  command,  started  on 
one  of  the  most  perilous  marches  of  the  war. 
The  second  night  out  we  camped  on  the  Rio 
Grande,  or  Grand  River.  Three  wagons  had 
been  chartered  to  convey  us  to  Santa  Fe ;  to  each 
one  was  attached  six  yoke  of  oxen.  The  first 
intention  was  to  cross  the  San  Antonie  Moun 
tains,  it  being  the  shortest  road.  We  therefore 
crossed  the  river  and  proceeded.  As  we  went  on, 
each  day  was  giving  us  more  difficult  roads  and 
deeper  snows  and  intensely  cold  weather.  The 


SECOND   COLORADOS.  9 

frost  was  severe  ;  it  broke  the  king-bolt  of  one  of 
the  heavy  freight  wagons  like  it  was  a  pipe-stem 
— a  bolt  of  iron  as  large  as  one's  wrist.  That  left 
a  part  of  the  company  without  beds  or  bedding, 
and  in  consequence  we  had  to  camp  at  the  first 
spot  available  for  water,  as  near  to  the  damaged 
wagon  as  possible,  to  admit  of  its  being  repaired 
early  next  day. 

The  spot  was  an  open  plateau,  at  the  foot  of 
the  mountains,  very  cold  and  breezy ;  we  all 
suffered  intensely.  A  pail  of  water  brought  from 
the  stream  and  placed  by  our  tent,  in  an  hour  had 
frozen  so  much  you  could  not  dip  a  small  cup  in 
the  centre.  We  were  all  glad  to  eat  our  frozen 
piece  and  crawl  under  the  blankets  as  soon  as 
possible.  Placing  my  children  (I  had  two  little 
ones)  between  my  husband  and  myself,  to  keep 
them  from  perishing,  thinking  they  were  safe,  I 
can  assure  you,  I  was  fatigued  enough  to  sleep 
soundly  myself  till  reveille  in  the  morning. 
Couriers  were  sent  ahead  to  see  if  it  was  possible 
to  get  through  on  the  route.  They  returned  with 
the  information  that  the  mountains  were  impas 
sable  ;  trains  were  already  blocked  in  forty  feet  of 
snow.  We  had  then  to  retrace  our  steps  to 
return  to  the  camping  ground  of  the  Rio  Grande, 
cross  over  and  try  a  more  southern  route  through 
the  Taos  Valley.  Napoleon's  march  across  the 
Alps  was  made  the  theme  of  song  and  story,  but 
it  would  sink  into  insignificance  if  compared  with 
the  marches  of  the  Second  Regiment  of  Colorado, 


10  HISTORY  OF  THE 

especially  of  Companies  A  and  B.  Mexico  was  a 
trackless  waste,  alternately  long  narrow  valleys 
and  ranges  of  irregular  mountains  covered  with  a 
growth  of  pine  cedar  and  scrub  oak,  which  during 
winter  are  loaded  down  with  snow. 

There  are  no  roads,  but  just  a  trail  made  by  the 
burros,  which  the  natives  pack  with  their  goods 
whenever  they  wish  to  transport  them  to  any 
place. 

I  have  seen  a  household  packed  on  one  of  the 
little  long-eared  creatures,  even  women  and  their 
trunks;  there  was  but  little  in  sight  except  the 
ears  and  legs  of  the  poor  animal. 

But  to  go  back  to  our  march.  Some  days  we 
could  only  make  about  two  miles.  In  selecting 
this  route  our  guides  had  hopes  of  less  snow,  but 
it  seemed  as  if  we  could  scarce  encounter  more 
difficulty.  Snows  would  fall  at  night  covering  up 
tents  and  wagons,  and  all  track  or  trail  was  out 
of  sight.  Squads  of  the  soldiers  would  march 
ahead  to  break  the  track,  alternately  changing  to 
rest  each  other,  while  others  with  shovels  went 
ahead  of  the  teams  to  clear  the  way  for  the  poor 
jaded  animals,  and  (allowing  a  military  term) 
bringing  up  the  rear  was  my  two  children  and 
myself  ;  my  baby  boy  was  most  of  the  time  in  the 
arms  of  one  or  other  of  the  soldiers,  his  comrade 
relieving  him  of  his  gun.  To  ride  was  impossible, 
as  that  would  be  to  freeze  or  to  risk  a  roll  down 
the  mountain  side,  as  one  misstep  of  a  poor  toil 
ing  beast  might  have  hurled  the  wagons  down 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  11 

into  the  deep  ravines,  burying  all  out  of  sight  in 
the  snow. 

One  day  of  this  trying  march  across  the  Katoon 
Mountains,  I  think  will  never  be  forgotten  by  any 
of  those  who  were  there.  We  started  up  from 
Red  River  in  the  morning.  It  was  extremely 
cold,  and  the  mountains  very  steep;  hopes  were 
entertained  of  reaching  feed  and  water  at  night 
for  the  sake  of  the  poor  cattle.  After  starting 
out  it  was  found  impossible  to  proceed  without 
doubling  teams ;  all  the  oxen  had  to  be  attached 
to  one  wagon,  and  then  it  seemed  scarcely  to 
move,  even  with  all  their  united  efforts. 

Those  of  the  soldiers  not  needed  to  help  with 
the  wagons  subsequently  started  to  ascend  the 
mountains,  my  husband  with  the  rest,  my  chil 
dren  and  myself  following  behind.  About  a  mile 
up  it  became  so  cold,  the  sharp  stinging  wind 
cutting  face  and  fingers,  that  my  little  boy  began 
to  cry,  all  effort  to  make  him  forget  it  was  of 
no  avail.  We  had  out-walked  the  teams,  and 
it  became  evident  they  would  be  some  time  reach 
ing  where  we  were.  The  soldiers  proposed  and 
prepared  to  carry  into  effect  the  idea  of  making  a 
fire. 

You  may  imagine  what  a  task  it  was,  when 
not  a  spot  of  bare  ground  could  be  seen.  The 
trees  being  weighted  down  with  snow.  But  to 
say,  was  to  do  with  the  hardy  mountaineer. 
Overcoats  were  pulled  off  and  placed  on  the 
snow  under  a  pinon  tree,  and  then  I  was  re- 


12  HISTORY  OF  THE 

quested  to  its  down  with  my  children  and  coats 
were  hung  around  us  for  protection,  till  a  fire 
could  be  started.  Then  came  the  task  of  digging 
out  dead  wood  from  under  the  snow,  but  as  many 
hands  make  quick  work,  a  pile  was  soon  raised. 
Next  came  the  hunt  for  matches  with  which  to 
start  the  cheering  blaze.  Snap,  snap,  snap,  still 
no  fire,  only  one  match  was  left,  all  efforts  had 
been  futile,  till  now  came  the  glowing  spark  from 
the  last  match,  and  soon  we  were  sitting  and 
some  standing  in  the  melted  snow.  We  heeded 
not  the  wet,  the  fire  was  so  pleasant  to  our  senses 
in  our  benumbed  condition.  While  enjoying  the 
fire  a  messenger  came,  telling  us  the  teams  could 
make  but  a  very  short  distance  that  day.  As 
they  told  us  where  to  find  a  camping  ground  for 
the  night,  we  left  our  cheerful  fire  and  started  on, 
reaching  the  ground  designated. 

Beneath  the  shelter  of  some  friendly  pinon  trees 
our  tents  were  placed  as  soon  as  the  wagons 
reached  the  ground.  Meals  were  then  prepared 
and  quickly  disposed  off. 

The  poor  tired  animals  were  driven  back  to  Red 
River,  our  starting  point  (in  the  morning),  to  be 
fed.  Nothing  was  to  be  had  on  the  mountain 
top.  For  one  week  the  poor  tired  creatures  had 
to  be  driven  back  each  night  to  be  fed.  You  may 
therefore  judge  we  could  not  travel  far  in  the 
day. 

When  we  awoke  next  morning  we  found  our 
selves  buried  in  snow,  and  heard  the  Captain 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  13 

bawling  round,  "  Charley,  where  are  you  ?"  (to  my 
husband)  who  soon  started  a  fire  inside,  which 
sent  the  snow  rolling  off  the  tent.  Marching 
through  the  snow  was  again  the  order  of  the  day, 
with  the  same  programme  as  before,  with  slight 
variations,  one  of  which  was  tying  ropes  to  one 
side  of  the  wagons,  the  men  hanging  with  all 
their,  might  to  stop  them  from  rolling  down  the 
precipice  into  the  ravines  beneath,  which  were 
filled  with  snow.  We  were  just  climbing  round 
the  mountains  to  reach  the  valley  on  the  other 
side,  and  thus  it  was  for  about  twenty  days,  sky 
above  and  snow  beneath,  tramping  wearily 
along. 

Not  hearing  from  the  company,  the  officers  in 
command  at  Santa  Fe  became  uneasy  and  sent 
out  scouts  to  hunt  us  up.  On  learning  our 
whereabouts,  mule  teams  were  sent  to  relieve  the 
jaded  oxen,  and  to  hurry  us  on  to  Santa  Fe, 
where  marching  orders  were  waiting  for  the  com 
pany,  and  all  the  troops  stationed  there  to  push 
on  soon  as  possible  to  Fort  Union.  The  military 
supplies  for  the  Territories  and  the  arsenal  wero 
kept  there,  and  it  was  deemed  advisable  to 
protect  that  garrison,  it  being  the  best  stronghold, 
and  the  enemy  were  reported  marching  in  full 
force  for  that  point,  as  it  would  give  them  control 
of  the  whole  frontier,  and  most  of  the  supplies 
needed  for  a  large  body  of  troops.  With  the  rein 
forcement  of  teams,  we  soon  reached  Santa  Fe, 
where  all  was  bustle  perparing  to  march.  Our 


14  HISTORY  OF  THE 

tents  were  speedily  put  up  and  we  were  soon 
eating  the  first  square  meal  for  twenty-eight 
days ;  that  you  may  imagine,  when  you  remember 
we  started  with  only  ten  days'  rations,  and  we 
had  travelled  through  a  country  where  money 
would  have  been  but  little  benefit  if  we  had  been 
fortunate  enough  to  possess  it.  The  settlements 
were  few  and  very  far  between,  and  at  best  not 
very  inviting ;  the  inhabitants  were  Mexicans,  and 
mostly  peons,  guarding  the  herds  or  flocks  of 
their  masters. 

Now  came  the  most  trying  time  for  me.  After 
getting  through  that  far,  hoping  to  be  able  to  keep 
with  or  near  my  husband,  I  found  orders  for  all 
women  to  stay  in  Santa  Fe.  Accordingly,  my 
husband  and  his  comrades  found  a  room  in 
which  they  placed  my  few  earthly  possessions, 
that  consisted  of  bedding,  clothes  and  food. 
Soldiers  don't  get  burdened  with  household 
effects ;  at  least,  we  did  not.  I  stepped  in  that 
room  not  knowing  how  long  I  would  have  even 
that  roof  over  my  head.  I  dared  not  to  think, 
what  the  war  might  bring  to  me.  I  was  penni 
less,  for  we  had  taken  no  pay,  although  six 
months  in  the  army.  I  dared  not  to  think, 
perhaps  I  might  be  left  alone  with  my  two  little 
boys,  a  stranger  there.  I  could  not  understand 
one  word  of  Spanish  or  talk  it,  and  perhaps  in  the 
end  I  might  have  to  beg  my  way  back  to  my 
friends.  I  never  thought  of  the  dark  side.  I 
only  lived  with  the  hope  that  all  would  be  right ; 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  15 

that  my  husband  would  be  spared,  and  I  be  near 
him  when  he  needed  a  wife's  care.  I  never 
dreamed  that  the  American  Government  might 
disown  me  or  throw  aside  my  claims  as  a  soldier's 
wife.  But  such  things  have  been  done,  and  many 
have  suffered.  It  has  made  me  shudder  often 
when  I  look  back  and  think  what  might  have 
been.  In  a  few  hours  the  troops  were  called  into 
line  and  marched  through  the  square  and  out  of 
sight,  enroute  to  meet  the  enemy  who  were 
expected  to  put  in  an  appearance  any  minute. 

As  the  troops  passed  out  of  sight,  I  stood  with 
my  two  little  boys  in  the  doorway  watching 
them.  A  sense  of  loneliness  came  over  me,  such 
as  I  never  felt  before.  Hundreds  of  miles  from 
home  and  kindred,  among  a  nation  of  people 
whose  language  I  could  not  understand,  and 
although  a  few  Americans  were  in  business  there 
yet  the  Spanish  language  was  all  that  was 
spoken.  Scarcely  had  I  began  to  realize  my 
situation  before  my  thoughts  were  carried  away 
from  the  subject.  On  the  east  side  of  the  square, 
the  flames  were  bursting  from  a  dwelling  which 
had  been  used  as  officers'  quarters,  and  some 
thoughts  had  been  entertained  of  putting  me 
there,  but  a  kind  Providence  spared  me  from  a 
sad  accident,  alone  as  I  was.  Next  came  an 
excitement,  the  intensity  of  which  I  can  never 
show  on  paper.  In  less  time  than  it  takes  me  to 
write  it,  came  Mexican  men,  women  and  chil 
dren.  Lame?  feeble,  crippled  and  all  ages, 


16  HISTORY  OF  THE 

rushing,  as  you  will  see  hungry  animals,  after 
food;  one  pulling  here  and  one  pulling  there. 
The  building  burned  to  the  ground ;  it  was  only 
adobe,  consequently  there  was  not  much  to  be 
burned  beside  doors  and  windows. 

This  motley  crew  heeded  not  the  fire  but  rushed 
to  the  empty  house  adjacent,  which  had  been 
occupied  by  troops,  and  tore  therefrom  everything 
made  of  either  wood,  iron  or  glass.  From  the 
wells,  the  buckets,  chains,  rollers  and  even  the 
curbs  passed  into  their  hands.  Like  so  many 
famishing  wolves,  they  tore  around  trying  to  out 
do  each  other ;  jostling,  crowding,  scolding  and 
cursing  in  Spanish  as  they  loaded  down  their 
burros  with  the  plunder.  A  party  had  been  left 
in  charge  of  the  stores  of  the  commissary  who,  it 
was  stated,  sold  all  he  could,  putting  the  money 
in  a  safe  place,  and  then  fearing  the  rebels  he 
threw  out  the  remainder  into  the  square  and  left. 
It  consisted  of  boxes  of  soap,  rice,  candles, 
pickles,  hominy,  vinegar,  dried  vegetables,  and 
all  such  stores  as  are  used  in  the  army.  Such  a 
charge  as  they  made  on  the  provisions  was 
scarcely  ever  witnessed  by -mortal  eye,  and  the 
scene  will  never  leave  my  memory ;  pen  fails  to 
give  a  fair  description.  All  were  Mexicans  but 
one  ;  that  was  the  wife  of  a  regular  soldier ;  she 
was  an  Irishwoman,  and  was  dressed  in  a  bright 
green  dress,  and  thus  became  distinguishable 
among  them.  Methinks  I  see  her  now,  first  here, 
then  there,  always  well  loaded,  and  it  was  useless 


SECOND  COLORADO^.  lY 

for  the  Mexicans  to  interfere.  She  was  too  brisk 
a  soldier  for  the  natives.  In  spite  of  my  dis 
couraging  situation  I  could  but  laugh  at  her 
difficulties  and  disputes  ;  they  were  many.  This 
plundering  was  kept  up  till  past  midnight,  it 
began  about  noon,  a  clear  bright  moon  helping 
them  to  see  their  way,  and  their  activity  did  not 
cease.  In  the  stable-yard  or  corral  was  a  large 
stack  of  hay  and  a  great  deal  of  fire- wood  ;  after 
clearing  all  the  empty  houses  they  attacked  it.  I 
sat  in  the  window  watching  the  motley  crew,  till 
I  fell  asleep  from  sheer  exhaustion.  When  day 
light  appeared  they  were  still  at  then-  work,  and 
it  continued  as  long  as  there  was  a  house  to 
search.  In  fact  the  business  men  began  to  fear 
lest  they  would  next  attack  their  stores,  so  fero 
cious  did  they  appear  ;  and  it  did  seem  as  if  there 
was  cause  to  fear ;  it  did  not  look  safe  till  in  a  day 
or  two  a  scare  was  put  on  them  by  two  rebels, 
who  had  been  arrested  subsequently  in  Santa  Fe 
as  spies,  but  were  given  their  freedom  after 
the  troops  were  concentrated  at  Fort  Union. 
They  returned  to  Santa  Fe ;  on  seeing  them  the 
Mexicans  sent  a  cry  ringing  on  the  air  "Tehanna, 
Tehanna,"  which  meant  "  Texan,"  of  whom  they 
stood  in  great  fear,  the  men  seeing,  which  I  think 
helped  the  excitement.  The  Mexicans  were 
afraid  to  occupy  their  separate  beds,  and  could  be 
seen  dragging  their  beds  and  bedding  into  as  few 
rooms  as  they  could  possibly  inhabit.  The  two 
men,  desiring  to  show  a  little  authority,  came 


18  HISTORY  OF  THE 

around  to  where  I  was  living,  and  one  desired  me 
to  make  preparation  to  move  as  soon  as  I  could. 
Seeing  I  was  feeling  quite  sick,  I  suppose  that 
caused  them  to  be  civil.  I  promised  to  move  as 
soon  as  I  could  get  a  house  to  live  in,  and  he 
passed  on  a  few  doors  further,  where  lived  my 
friend  of  the  green  dress,  and  I  soon  saw  from  the 
gestures  of  the  two  there  was  an  altercation  ;  and 
as  he  backed  out  she  stepped  up.  At  last  he 
exclaimed :  i  i  If  you  don't  move  out  I  will  burn 
the  house  over  your  head."  She  stepped  up  to 
him,  and  slapping  one  hand  in  the  palm  of  the 
other,  she  said  in  anything  but  polite  language, 
"Burn  away,  burn  away,  I  can  put  as  many 
sticks  on  the  fire  as  you  can."  I  think  he  took 
her  word  for  that ;  at  least  that  was  the  last  we 
heard  of  them. 

I  left  the  house  very  soon.  The  wife  of  a 
Mexican  soldier  had  vacated  hers  from  fear,  and 
told  me  if  I  dared  to  live  in  it  I  could.  I  moved, 
only  too  glad  to  get  where  I  would  be  free  from 
annoyance.  The  Government  buildings  and 
property  was  the  first  hunted  up  by  straggling 
rebels,  and  we  were  left  to  their  tender  mercies. 
A  part  of  the  rebel  army  was  then  making  its 
way  up  to  Santa  Fe,  when  they  reached  Alber- 
guergue,  they  gave  eight  of  our  men  their  liberty. 
They  had  taken  them  prisoners  at  Valverde. 
Truth  to  tell  they  had  great  need  of  provisions, 
and  so  it  was  a  policy  to  let  them  go.  Major 
Garrison  and  some  privates  of  the  regular  army, 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  19 

and  one  or  two  of  Company  B  of  the  Second 
Colorado  were  the  prisoners.  They  entered  the 
city,  weary,  worn  and  footsore,  intending  to 
proceed  to  join  their  respective  commands,  but 
advised  by  Mrs.  General  Canby  they  stayed  a  few 
hours  taking  the  rest  they  dearly  needed. 

Rumors  were  then  flying  round  that  the  rebels 
were  then  marching  on  to  Santa  Fe  in  great  num 
bers  sweeping  the  country  before  them,  and,  it 
seemed  to  us,  there  was  truth  in  the  report,  for  in 
a  few  hours  stragglers  began  to  arrive,  and  began 
to  take  all  they  could  lay  hands  on  from  the 
soldiers'  wives.  Our  husbands  had  procured  for  us 
all  the  provisions  they  could,  as  we  were  entirely 
without,  and  we  could  form  no  idea  of  when  we 
could  get  more,  and  therefore  had  to  husband  our 
stores  with  great  care.  As  soon  as  I  heard  of 
their  plundering,  my  little  boy  and  myself  dug  a 
long  shaped  hole  in  the  ground  at  the  back  of  the 
house,  there  we  placed  our  sack  of  flour  and 
other  stores,  covering  them  up  carefully  and 
scattered  ashes  and  dry  dirt  over  the  place  to  hide 
the  fresh  digging.  About  the  time  we  had 
finished  we  learned  that  the  officer  in  command 
was  Captain  Battles,  with  whom  our  Captain's 
wife  was  acquainted,  and  at  her  request  he  put  a 
stop  to  such  doings.  So  our  scare  then  was  at  an 
end,  as  far  as  ourselves  were  concerned,  but  it 
only  gave  place  to  a  greater  anxiety  each 
moment.  We  were  listening  for  the  boom  of 
cannons,  we  feared  the  worst,  for  our  troops 


20  HISTORY  OF  THE 

were  so  few  in  number,  and  rumor  told  of  the 
thousands  who  were  marching  on  from  Texas 
sweeping  all  before  them. 

At  this  critical  moment,  the  heart  of  a  true 
good  woman,  showed  itself.  Mrs.  Canby,  wife  of 
the  poor  murdered  General  who  lost  his  life  in 
the  Modoc  Nation.  Urged  all  loyal  women  to 
help  make  preparation  for  such  wounded  as 
might  need  care,  herself  setting  the  example,  by 
having  beds  filled,  hospital  rooms  set  in  order, 
lint,  soups  and  everything  she  could  think  of, 
prepared  for  the  comfort  and  aid  of  the  suffering. 
When  expostulated  with  for  so  doing,  as  rebel 
wounded  might  be  the  ones,  her  answer  was  that 
of  a  pure  loving  Christian  woman.  It  was  this, 
"No  matter  whether  friend  or  foe,  our  wounded 
enemy  must  be  cared  for  and  their  lives  saved  if 
it  is  possible,  they  are  sons  of  some  dear  mother." 
Her  total  disregard  of  self  and  watchful  care  of 
the  suffering  men,  tending  with  her  own  hand  at 
every  place  where  she  saw  most  need  of  woman's 
care,  won  for  her  the  love  of  friend  and  foe 
alike. 


SECOND   COLORADOS, 


CHAPTER  III. 

While  this  was  going  on,  the  roar  of  cannon 
was  heard.  The  din  of  war  reverberated  through 
the  surrounding  country,  and,  only  too  soon, 
wounded  men  were  brought  to  the  city,  maimed, 
suffering  and  dying.  They  were  promptly 
attended  to,  although  they  were  from  the  Con 
federate  lines.  Subsequently  an  engagement  had 
taken  place.  The  Confederate  forces  had  en 
trenched  and  fortified  themselves,  and  totally 
unexpected  our  forces  found  themselves  obliged 
to  stand  on  the  defensive.  The  Texans  had  taken 
a  stand,  which  for  a  time  seemed  to  give  them  the 
advantage  in  position  and  certainly  they  had  it  in 
point  of  numbers.  So  sure  were  they  of  success, 
that  they  had  placed  their  supply  train  containing 
provisions,  arms,  ammunition,  clothes  and  so 
forth,  for  their  army,  in  a  canon  in  their  rear 
with  a  guard  of  only  two  hundred  men  in  charge. 

This  circumstance  gave  our  men  great  aid,  as  in 
my  further  history  I  shall  show.  A  little  strategy 
placed  it  in  their  hands.  While  part  of  our 
troops  were  coping  with  the  enemy,  braving  to 
all  appearance  certain  death,  a  small  handful  of 
men  under  Major  Chivington,  led  by  a  scout,  and 
marching  round  the  mountain  went  to  where 


22  HISTORY  OF  THE 

their  supply  train  was  placed,  which  they 
attacked.  Some  were  taken  prisoners,  some  fled 
panic-stricken,  and  in  less  time  than  it  takes  me 
to  tell  it,  a  roar  as  if  the  mountains  were  rent  in 
twain  arose  on  the  air ;  they  had  fired  the  train, 
and  in  a  few  seconds  nothing  but  the  smoke  and 
ashes  was  left  of  that  which  was  to  sustain  the 
large  Confederate  force  then  in  the  Territory  and 
at  that  time  engaged  in  a  battle  with  our  forces 
at  Apache  Canon.  While  this  small  band  suc 
ceeded  in  effectually  crippling  the  enemy,  their 
comrades  were  engaged  in  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  battles  of  the  war.  We  find  the  official 
records  fail  to  give  the  credit  to  the  soldiers  of 
Colorado.  Yet  their  success  was  mainly  due  to 
them. 

Their  coolness  and  bravery  was  without  a  par- 
alel.  Sergeant  Jones  of  Company  A,  who  helped 
to  man  one  of  the  batteries,  when  the  shot  and 
shell  was  flying  around  him  like  hail,  hurling  trees 
and  rocks  and  making  the  mountains  tremble, 
turned  to  his  comrades,  so  deliberately,  and  said : 
"Boys  they  like  grape,  lets  give  'em  a  little  more." 

I  think  the  unfairness  of  official  record  was 
mainly  due  to  the  fact  that  it  was  from  the  regu 
lar  officers'  mostly,  and  they  had  not  much  kind 
feeling  for  the  volunteers.  I  can  here  give  the 
part  taken  by  Colonel  Slough  of  the  first  regiment 
of  Colorado,  he  was  in  command  of  the  division 
composed  of  the  following  troops :  his  own 
regiment,  the  First  Regiment  of  Colorado,  Captain 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  23 

Ford's  Independant  Company  of  Volunteers,  after 
wards  A  of  the  Second  Kegiment  of  Colorado, 
Captain  Lewis'  Battalion  of  Fifth  Infantry, 
Captain  Ritter's  Battery,  Lieutenant  Clafflin's 
Battery  and  four  small  howitzers.  The  move 
ment  commenced  from  Fort  Union,  Saturday,  the 
twenty-second  of  March,  and  the  command 
encamped  at  Vernal  Springs,  forty-five  miles  from 
Union,  on  Tuesday,  the  twenty-fifth  instant. 

On  Wednesday,  the  twenty-sixth,  a  command 
of  two  hundred  cavalry  and  one  hundred  and 
eighty  infantry,  under  Major  Chivington  of  the 
First  Regiment  of  Colorado,  was  advanced  toward 
Santa  Fe,  with  a  view  of  capturing  or  defeating  a 
force  of  the  enemy  reported  to  be  stationed  there. 
The  enemy  in  force  was  engaged  near  Johnston's 
Ranch,  Apache  Canon,  about  fifteen  miles  from 
Santa  Fe.  The  result  was  victorious  to  our 
forces.  The  enemy  was  defeated  with  some 
twenty  or  twenty-five  killed,  more  wounded,  and 
about  seventy  taken  prisoners.  Our  loss  was 
small.  Three  men  killed  in  the  fight,  two  died 
from  wounds  and  some  eight  others  wounded. 
Captain  Cook  of  the  Colorado  Volunteers  was 
very  badly  wounded,  but  recovered  after  a  long 
sickness. 

Major  Chivington' s  command,  Company  A, 
under  command  of  Captain  Ford,  formed  a  part  of 
the  same,  and  took  position  on  the  Pecas,  at  Kas- 
lowski's  Ranch,  twenty- seven  miles  from  Santa 
Fe.  About  noon  on  the  twenty-seventh,  Colonel 


M  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Slough  left  Camp  Paul,  at  Bernal  Springs,  and 
about  two  o'clock  next  morning  posted  his  entire 
force  at  Kaslowski's.  On  the  twenty-eight,  a 
movement  was  made  upon  the  enemy  in 
columns,  with  a  view  of  reconnoitering  his  posi 
tion  at  Johnston's  Eanch.  For  this  purpose  the 
infantry  force  of  regulars  and  volunteers,  under 
Major  Chivington,  was  directed  to  move  off  on 
the  Galisteo  road,  attain  the  principal  height  upon 
the  side  of  Apache  Canon  and  occupy  them. 
While  the  main  body,  under  Colonel  Slough, 
moved  directly  into  the  canon.  It  was  known 
that  the  enemy  had  been  strongly  reinforced.  At 
nine  o'clock  in  the  morning  our  troops  left  their 
encampment  and  at  thirty  minutes  past  ten 
arrived  at  Pigeon's  Kanch,  five  miles  distant,  and 
please  bear  in  mind,  it  was  a  rocky,  mountainous 
country  through  which  they  had  to  pass,  it  was 
almost  impossible  to  set  a  sure  foot  on  the  loose 
pebbles.  The  command,  under  Major  Chivington, 
had  flanked  off  at  a  point  about  two  miles  beyond 
Kaslowski's. 

When  Colonel  Slough's  command  reached 
Pigeon's,  he  directed  Captain  Chaplin,  Seventh 
Infantry,  Adjutant-General,  to  proceed  forward 
with  the  cavalry  and  reconnoiter  the  position  of 
the  enemy.  He  had  proceeded  about  three  hun 
dred  yards  when  our  pickets  were  driven  in,  and 
the  enemy  opened  a  fire  of  grape  and  shell  from  a 
battery  carefully  placed  in  position  upon  the  hill 
side.  The  batteries  were  brought  forward  and 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  25 

the  infantry  thrown  out  upon  the  flanks.  The 
cavalry,  with  an  addition  of  infantry,  supported 
the  batteries  and  the  firing  became  general.  The 
battle  continued  over  five  hours.  The  fighting 
was  all  done  in  thick  covers  of  cedars,  and  having 
met  the  enemy  where  they  were  not  expected  the 
action  was  defensive  from  beginning  to  end.  The 
capturing  and  destroying  of  the  wagon  train  and 
supplies  by  Major  Chivington's  command  was  a 
most  serious  disaster  to  the  enemy.  About  five 
p.  M.  a  flag  of  truce  came  from  the  enemy,  and 
measures  were  taken  by  both  forces  to  gather  up 
and  bury  their  dead  and  to  care  for  the  wounded. 
All  who  were  able  to  be  moved  were  brought  to 
Santa  Fe,  and  Rebel  as  well  as  Union  men  shared 
alike  the  kindness  and  care  of  the  doctors  and 
citizens.  Mrs.  General  Canby  personally  seeing 
that  none  should  suffer  for  care.  The  wounded 
who  could  not  be  brought  to  the  city  were  her 
special  charge ;  her  carriage  could  be  seen  every 
day  on  the  road,  bearing  her  or  something  her 
thoughtful  care  had  provided  for  the  sick  and 
suffering. 

As  there  was  positive  orders  for  Fort  Union  to 
be  protected  at  all  hazards,  Colonel  Slough  with 
his  entire  command  fell  back  to  that  point.  The 
Confederate  forces  came  on  to  Santa  Fe,  where 
their  sick  and  wounded  lay.  From  privations 
and  hardships,  marching  through  a  climate  much 
colder  than  their  own,  disease  set  in  and  phneu- 
monia  gave  the  grave  nearly  as  many  as  the  fight. 


26  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Day  by  day  I  saw  the  hospital  wagon,  with  its 
silent  load,  wending  its  way  along  the  mountain 
side,  and  on  that  lonely  plateau  would  be  laid  side 
by  side  all  that  was  left  of  the  once  healthy, 
robust  young  men  who  but  a  few  weeks  before 
left  the  sunny  soil  of  Texas,  leaving  their  beloved 
ones  behind,  never  to  return.  A  small  wooden 
tablet  marks  their  resting  place;  their  names 
to-day,  I  expect,  are  faded  out  and  they  are 
numbered  with  the  unknown.  Finding,  I  sup 
pose,  nothing  could  be  gained  by  holding  Santa 
Fe,  the  whole  Confederate  force  who  were  able  to 
travel  evacuated  the  city,  leaving  their  dying  to 
the  merciful.  They  abandoned  their  sick  and 
dying  eveiywhere. 

The  Confederate  forces  were  reported  to  be  con 
centrating  at  or  near  Albuquerque,  accordingly 
General  Canby,  of  whose  command  Company  B 
of  the  Second  then  was  a  part,  ordered  Colonel 
Paul,  who  was  in  command  of  the  division  at 
Union,  to  make  a  junction  with  him  at  the  above 
named  point,  to  intercept  or  rout  the  entire  force 
of  the  enemy.  On  the  evening  of  the  thirteenth 
of  April,  a  junction  was  formed  and  the  whole 
united  command  was  marched,  during  the  day  and 
night  of  the  fourteenth,  to  Peralto,  thirty-six 
miles  distant,  arriving  there  before  the  Confeder 
ate  force  had  any  suspicion  of  the  movement.  In 
this  command  Companies  A  and  B  of  the  Second 
Colorado  were  again  together. 

On  the  morning  of  the  fifteenth,  a  mountain 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  27 

howitzer  and  a  train  seven  wagons  loaded  with 
supplies,  and  escorted  by  a  lieutenant  and 
thirty  men,  were  captured.  Six  of  the  Confeder 
ates  were  killed  in  the  conflict,  three  wounded 
and  twenty-two  captured.  To  cover  this  move 
ment,  Colonel  Paul  with  his  column  had  been 
detached,  and  after  completing  it,  he  received 
permission  to  clear  the  basque  in  front  of  Peralto 
of  the  enemies  force  that  then  occupied  it.  After 
some  sharp  skirmishing,  in  which  our  loss  was 
one  killed  and  three  wounded,  this  work  was 
handsomely  executed,  and  the  basque  in  front  and 
rear  of  the  town  occupied  by  our  troops. 

The  point  occupied  by  the  Confederate  troops 
was  known  to  be  the  strongest,  except  Fort 
Union,  in  New  Mexico,  and  as  nearly  all  the  men 
had  been  twenty -four,  and  many  of  them  thirty- 
six  hours,  without  food,  no  general  attack  was 
designed  until  after  the  approaches  to  the  place 
had  been  thoroughly  reconnoitered  and  the  troops 
allowed  time  to  obtain  food  and  rest.  This  recon- 
noisance  was  made  on  the  afternoon  of  the  same 
day,  the  points  and  direction  of  attack  selected, 
and  the  camp  of  the  command  advanced  to  a 
point  nearer  the  town  where  the  trains  could 
be  guarded  by  a  smaller  number  of  men.  During 
the  night  the  enemy  abandoned  his  position  and 
crossed  to  the  right  bank  of  the  Eio  Grande  del 
Norte,  leaving  his  sick  and  wounded  behind  him 
without  attendance,  without  medicine  and  almost 
without  food, 


28  HISTORY  OF  THE 

After  detaching  the  staff -officers  attached  to  the 
department  headquarters,  to  make  arrangements 
for  future  operations  and  the  train  that  could  be 
spared  for  supplies,  the  pursuit  was  continued 
down  the  left  bank  of  the  river  (the  shortest 
route)  with  the  intention  of  crossing  at  La  Foya, 
Palvastera,  Sabina  or  Fort  Craig,  if  the  enemy 
should  not  be  overtaken  sooner.  On  the  night  of 
that  day  our  camp  was  five  miles  in  his  rear.  On 
the  sixteenth  we  had  nearly  overtaken  the  rear  of 
his  column,  and  the  march  was  continued  during 
the  remainder  of  the  day  in  sight  and  almost 
within  cannon  range,  but  on  opposite  sides  of  the 
river.  All  night  our  camps  were  directly  oppo 
site,  but  during  the  night  he  abandoned  a  large 
portion  of  his  train,  thirty-eight  wagons  and  the 
supplies  they  contained,  and  fled  into  the  moun 
tains.  After  making  arrangements  for  securing 
the  property  abandoned  by  the  enemy,  the  march 
was  continued  to  Balvedera.  At  this  place  the 
command  was  halted  for  a  day,  in  order  to  be 
assured  of  the  position  and  movements  of  the 
enemy,  and  to  secure  the  safety  of  a  supply  train 
in  our  rear.  These  objects  having  been  accom 
plished,  the  march  was  resumed  and  continued 
till  the  command  reached  Fort  Craig  on  the  after 
noon  of  the  twenty-second  of  April. 

Companies  A  and  B  of  the  Second  Colorado 
were  ordered  into  the  Fort,  and  the  First  Regiment 
of  Colorado  camped  on  the  sands  preparatory  to 
being  returned  to  Colorado.  The  two  first  named 


SECOND   COLORADOS.  29 

companies  stayed  at  Fort  Craig  doing  such  duty 
as  was  from  time  to  time  assigned  them,  hoping 
for  a  release  as  it  was  one  of  the  most  disagreea 
ble  places  in  which  to  stay  ;  tarantula,  centipedes 
and  tail-toads  were  frequent  bed-fellows;  the 
provisions  were  of  the  poorest  quality,  both  bread 
and  meat  wormy,  and  the  water  was  as  thick  as 
porridge.  At  last  the  pay-master  made  his 
appearance  for  the  first  time  since  enlistment, 
which  was  very  nearly  a  year.  Our  troops  had 
but  little  encouragement  to  fight ;  badly  clothed, 
badly  fed,  and  so  many  months  without  a  cent  of 
money,  but  as  it  was  unavoidable  they  took  it 
philosophically  and  made  the  best  of  it  when  it 
came.  A  short  time  after  this  event,  about  the 
last  of  August  or  beginning  of  September,  Com 
panies  A  and  B  of  the  Second  Colorado,  with 
Lieutenant  -  Colonel  Dodd  in  command,  were 
ordered  to  report  at  Santa  Fe,  and  they  were  very 
glad  of  the  change. 

A  laughable  incident  occurred  on  this  march. 
It  befng  extremely  warm  it  was  deemed  expedient, 
as  they  had  a  sandy  desert  to  cross,  to  make  that 
march  early  in  the  morning  while  cool.  The 
bugler  accordingly  had  orders  to  sound  reveille  as 
soon  as  the  morning  star  appeared.  He  rolled  up 
in  his  blankets,  took  a  good  snore  or  two,  waking 
up  he  saw  the  bright  star  sailing  along.  He 
sounded  the  call,  the  camp  was  aroused,  and 
after  a  little  preparation  the  command  was  in 
motion,  In  vain  they  looked  for  day.  Some  one 


30  HISTORY  OF  THE 

found  out  at  last  it  was  the  "  evening  star," 
instead  of  the  morning.  All  then  declared  the 
bugler  had  taken  his  canteen  for  a  telescope,  look 
ing  through  it  instead  of  the  latter. 

After  a  tedious  march  across  the  hot  sand  the 
command  reached  Santa  Fe,  finding  it  occupied 
by  Union  troops  and  all  going  on  as  if  nothing 
had  disturbed  the  peace  of  the  country,  the  only 
evidence  left  was  the  destruction  which  General 
Canby  was  endeavoring  to  obliterate  as  speedily 
as  possible,  repairing  all  the  damage  caused  by 
pillage  and  fire.  When  the  Union  forces  evacu 
ated  the  city  they  cut  down  the  flag-pole, 
intending  the  rebels  should  never  have  the  chance 
of  raising  their  flag  on  it. 

When  our  troops  returned  to  Santa  Fe,  about 
the  first  order  given  was  to  make  a  pole  to  replace 
the  one  cut  down  and  men  were  detailed  for  the 
purpose.  My  husband  was  one  of  the  number 
and,  on  the  fourth  of  July,  assisted  in  raising  the 
flag  of  the  free  once  more  in  the  City  of  Santa  Fe. 

It  is  up  and  it  floats, 

On  the  pure  morning  air, 
It's  stripes  are  uninjured, 
It's  stars  are  all  there  ; 

And  long  may  it  float,  o'er  the  land  and  the  sea, 
Our  own  glorious  emblem,  the  flag  of  the  free. 

It  is  up,  and  the  sunshine, 

Hath  gilded  the  staff, 
The  mountains  we  fancy 
They  seem  as  to  laugh, 

May  the  echo  go  forth,  o'er  the  land  and  the  sea, 
Our  flag  is  afloat,  'tis  the  flag  of  the  free, 


SECOND   COLORADOS.  31 

See  the  traitors  succumb, 
In  their  rebel  disgrace  ; 
When  they  find  our  fair  emblem, 

Hath  taken  its  place, 

Owning  that  as  they  vanish,  o'er  the  land  and  the  sea, 
Our  flag  must  float  ever,  the  flag  of  the  free. 

It  is  up,  and  its  breast 

Is  to  heaven  laid  bare, 

Our  God  he  hath  seen  it, 

And  blesseth  it  there ; 

It  waves,  aye  how  grandly,  o'er  the  land  and  the  sea, 
Our  flag  is  acknowledged,  the  flag  of  the  free. 

'Neath  its  folds  our  forefathers 

Have  bled  and  have  died, 
Victory  and  honor 

Is  to  it  allied ; 

As  it  spreads  in  its  grandeur,  o'er  the  land  and  the  sea, 
Our  emblem  of  glory,  the  flag  of  the  free. 

It  is  up,  may  the  heavens 
Turn  black  with  despair, 
Ere  'tis  torn  from  its  homestead 

And  other  placed  there. 

May  the  darkness  of  Erebus,  wrap  earth  and  the  sea, 
Ere  they  tear  from  its  standard,  the  flag  of  the  free. 

MRS.  WILLIAMS. 


32  HISTORY  OF  THE 


CHAPTER  IV. 

It  was  a  beautiful  and  impressive  sight ;  the 
morning  sun  gilding  the  mountain-tops  with  its 
mellow  light  and  reflecting  its  golden  hues  on  all 
around  us.  General  Canby  with  the  officers  of 
his  staff,  with  bared  heads  ;  the  Chaplain's  prayer 
of  thankfulness ;  the  General  standing  with  his 
hand  upon  the  pole,  his  fine  form  and  noble 
physique  ;  around  him  the  officers  and  the  soldiers 
under  arms,  ready  to  salute;  the  mountains  in 
the  background  ;  in  front,  the  citizens  ;  altogether 
gave  a  picture  worthy  the  pencil  of  an  artist. 
Grandly  sublime,  more  especially  so  when  taking 
into  consideration  the  place  and  general  condition 
of  the  country,  scarcely  a  step  above  barbarism. 

The  two  companies,  A  and  B,  were  assigned  to 
garrison  duty,  a  regular  officer  who  was  in  com 
mand  there  appeared  to  take  eminent  delight  in 
giving  them  duties  to  perform,  which  would 
lessen  them  as  men ;  for  instance,  to  clear  away 
the  slop  and  garbage  which  accumulated  around 
the  officers'  quarters,  and  sweep  the  dirt  from  their 
doors.  Now  our  volunteers  did  not  enlist  for 
such  work,  but  knowing  at  the  same  time  that  a 
good  soldier  obeys  orders,  it  was  done,  and  with 
the  labor  no  doubt  some  profanity  was  mixed,  as 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  33 

soldiers  under  aggravating  circumstances  are  not 
proof  against  temptation  to  err.  Time  soon 
became  irksome  to  them,  they  had  no  penchant 
for  staying  around  garrisons,  it  was  active  service 
they  wanted,  and  when  reports  came  that  the 
Texans  intended  to  try  another  attack  on  the 
Territory,  coming  up  by  way  of  Red  River,  it  gave 
them  a  hope  that  again  they  would  have  a  show 
to  test  the  mettle  of  the  enemy.  About  the  time 
the  first  snow  fell,  Company  B  was  ordered  to 
report  at  Fort  Union.  On  their  arrival  they  were 
put  on  duty  in  the  garrison  where  active  work 
was  going  on  throwing  up  trenches.  Very  shortly 
after,  Company  A  was  also  ordered  to  report  at 
the  same  place,  and  on  arriving  there  the  duty  was 
assigned  them  of  cutting  timber  for  the  trenches 
to  facilitate  the  matter.  We  camped  about  five 
miles  from  the  Fort  in  a  place  called  Coyote 
Canon,  a  narrow  defile  between  the  mountains, 
where  we  were  surrounded  with  timber. 

The  work  went  actively  forward  for  a  few 
weeks,  every  means  to  find  out  the  movements  of 
the  enemy,  their  strength  and  intention  were 
made.  After  making  a  feint  as  if  to  enter  the 
Territory  again  they  all  at  once  disappeared,  and 
it  became  evident  they  had  abandoned  the  idea 
and  instead  were  moving  toward  the  Arkansas,  or 
Indian  Nation.  All  sign  of  trouble  in  Mexico  was 
at  an  end,  and  the  duties  of  the  garrison  was  all 
there  was  to  perform,  except  an  occasional  scout 
after  prowling  redskins. 


34:  HISTORY  OF  THE 

About  the  early  part  of  January,  orders  came 
for  Companies  A  and  B  of  the  Second  Colorado  to 
report  at  Fort  Lyon,  accordingly  the  two  com 
panies  left  Fort  Union  under  Captain  Hall's 
command.  I  think  there  was  but  a  very  few 
regretted  leaving  Mexico,  yet  it  was  again  mid 
winter.  Our  route  this  time  was  a  more  pleasant 
one.  We  did  not  have  to  encounter  on  this  trip 
such  inclement  weather,  although  sometimes  cold, 
wet  and  snowy,  it  was  nothing  in  comparison 
to  our  other  marches ;  it  was  one  of  pleasure,  the 
sick  out-door  patients  I  cared  for  improved  every 
day ;  it  was  a  quiet  march  with  only  the  fun  of 
camping  out .  thrown  in.  We  reached  Fort  Lyon 
in  the  Spring  of  1863,  and  met  there  a  hearty 
welcome  from  the  soldiers  of  Colorado  already 
stationed  there.  As  some  companies  of  the  First 
Kegiment  of  Colorado  were  in  Fort  Lyon  on  the 
arrival  of  our  two  companies,  A  and  B,  the  former 
were  sent  to  Denver  preparatory  to  being  ordered 
to  the  States.  During  the  time  we  were  in 
Mexico,  recruiting  had  been  actively  going  on  in 
Colorado  and  other  companies  had  been  organized, 
thus  completing  the  Second  Regiment  of  Colorado, 
who  were  then  for  the  first  time  all  together. 
They  were  physically  as  fine  a  regiment  as  ever 
answered  the  call  of  the  roll,  their  bravery  was 
such  that  they  were  held  in  awe  by  the  Confeder 
ate  forces.  They  never  failed  to  strike  terror  to 
their  ranks.  Their  presence  had  always  proved  a 
signal  of  defeat. 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  35 

We  had  been  in  Fort  Lyon  but  a  short  time 
before  it  seemed  evident  there  would  be  an  upris 
ing  among  the  Indians,  and  the  excitement  kept 
the  regiment  a  great  deal  of  the  time  in  the  saddle, 
scouting  here  and  there.  Some  fears  were  enter 
tained  of  their  attacking  the  garrisons ;  it  was 
evidently  their  intention  to  take  advantage  if  the 
country  was  clear  of  troops.  During  the  Spring, 
orders  came  from  the  department  to  the  effect 
that  the  Second  Kegiment  was  ordered  into  the 
field  to  march  forthwith  to  the  States,  under  com 
mand  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Dodd.  Accordingly, 
all  men  fit  for  duty  were  duly  put  under  marching 
orders.  Company  F  was  left  at  Fort  Lyon.  All 
men  on  sick  report  were  attached  to  that  company, 
my  husband  among  the  number,  at  that  time 
under  treatment  for  rheumatism.  The  rest  of  the 
regiment  started  for  the  States.  The  weather  was 
pretty  fair  at  first,  but  was  very  wet,  cold  and 
disagreeable  before  they  got  to  the  States.  The 
regiment  up  to  this  time  had  not  been  supplied 
with  horses,  so  those  who  were  without  confis 
cated  ponies  on  the  road,  in  some  cases  one 
serving  two  masters. 

On  reaching  the  railroad,  from  which  point 
they  were  to  be  shipped  to  St.  Louis,  they  had  a 
difficulty  in  getting  proper  conveyance,  the  rail 
road  company  wanting  to  ship  them  like  cattle ; 
but  they  refused  to  be  carried  up  in  that  manner. 
Finding  they  would  not  put  up  with  such 
indignity,  they  furnished  them  passenger  cars, 


36  HISTORY  OF  THE 

and  they  went  on  their  way  rejoicing,  reaching  St. 
Louis  in  the  morning,  but  by  some  mismanage 
ment  were  left  at  the  depot  till  noon,  when  they 
were  marched  to  Benton  Barracks  and  there 
supplied  with  horses,  and  from  thence  were 
ordered  to  Maravia.  Colonel  Dodd  was  ordered  to 
take  Companies  A  and  B,  with  two  pieces  of 
artillery,  to  escort  a  provision  train  from  Fort 
Scott  to  Fort  Smith,  Arkansas.  When  within 
ten  miles  of  Fort  Smith  the  enemy  unexpectedly 
attacked  them  in  a  ravine  of  heavy  brush.  A  des 
perate  encounter  ensued  which  lasted  about  three 
hours.  Of  the  rebels,  there  was  two  to  one. 
Fortunately  our  troops  had  no  loss,  but  the 
enemy's  was  about  twenty  killed  and  wounded. 

On  this  trip,  seeing  plenty  of  pigs  in  the  woods, 
some  of  the  boys  concluded  to  try  their  guns  on 
them  for  the  sake  of  fresh  pork,  and  they  found 
them  to  be  a  great  curiosity,  having  cloven  feet  or 
whole  hoofs  like  a  horse.  The  regiment  was  kept 
in  the  field  all  the  Summer  and  Fall.  Many  hard 
marches  and  desperate  encounters  they  met  on 
their  way  down  to  Port  Gibson,  where  they  met 
again  some  of  the  same  regiments  they  encoun 
tered  in  Mexico.  There  was  much  hard  fighting, 
marching  and  counter  -  marching ;  the  enemy 
losing  heavily,  with  some  loss  to  our  own,  who 
were  finally  ordered  up  to  St.  Louis.  Company 
K  stayed  at  Fort  Lyon  till  the  month  of  Novem 
ber  ;  then  Companies  F,  G  and  H  of  the  Third 
Eegiment,  in  obedience  to  general  order,  concen- 


SECOND   COLORADOS.  37 

trated  with  Company  K  of  the  Second  at  Fort 
Lyon  and  received  orders  to  march  for  the 
States. 

Accordingly,  on  the  twentieth  day  of  Novem 
ber,  1863,  with  Major  Pritchard  in  command,  we 
started  at  noon  and  made  about  twelve  miles. 
It  was  a  fine  afternoon,  but  toward  night  a 
cool  breeze  arose,  bringing  with  it  a  snow 
storm,  which  was  so  severe  that  for  nine  days 
we  were  obliged  to  stay  there.  The  wagons 
were  almost  out  of  sight,  and  the  mules  had 
to  be  driven  back  to  Fort  Lyon  for  feed. 
This  was  but  a  commencement  of  a  series  of 
storms;  for  two  months  we  saw  nothing  but 
the  most  inclement  weather ;  the  snow  came  so 
suddenly  and  so  severely  that  it  found  us  all 
unprepared — no  wood,  and  almost  an  impossi 
bility  to  get  any,  and  but  few  stoves.  The 
animals  suffered  equally  with  ourselves ;  but  the 
government  mules  generally  learn  a  thing  or  two, 
and  we  had  some  of  that  educated  class  with  us. 
Seeing  no  show  for  fodder,  in  the  night  they  went 
to  the  supply  wagon  of  Company  K  and  eat  up 
the  rations;  appropriating  flour,  bread,  bacon, 
hominy,  rice,  etc.,  for  hay  and  corn.  That  made 
another  requisition  on  the  commissary  a  necessity, 
and  men  were  therefore  detailed  to  return  to  the 
Fort  for  stoves,  food  and  such  things  as  were 
needed  for  the  trip. 

Each  day  we  were  hoping  for  a  change  in  the 
weather.    The  morning  would  sometimes  brighten 


38  HISTORY  OF  THE 

up,  but  a  few  hours  brought  the  cold  wind  and 
drifting  snow.  On  the  morning  of  the  twenty- 
fifth  it  was  cheerful  and  bright,  but  night  again 
brought  with  it  a  most  severe  and  terrible 
storm  of  snow.  During  the  time  we  laid  snow 
bound  in  this  camp — called  by  the  men,  "  Camp 
Snow  Bank" — the  stage  for  the  States,  from  Fort 
Lyon,  tried  to  make  its  way  down  to  Fort 
Larnard,  the  driver  was  so  badly  frozen  he  laid 
for  many  months  hovering  between  life  and  death, 
and  recovered  at  last  to  be  a  hopeless  cripple. 
Many  of  our  men  were  frost-bitten  and  suffered 
intensely  from  the  biting  cold  winds. 

After  we  started,  each  day  was  almost  a  repeti 
tion  of  the  other.  Few  marches  on  record  equal 
this  one  in  severity,  suffering  and  exposure.  Not 
a  friendly  tree  to  screen  us  from  the  storm,  the 
open,  bleak  plains  before  and  behind  us,  and  for 
miles  nothing  to  burn  but  weeds ;  every  available 
piece  of  wood  was  used  up.  Two  freighters  who 
had  taken  up  apples,  butter,  eggs,  etc.,  to  the  Fort 
followed  the  command  down.  Their  teams  were 
six  yoke  of  oxen,  with  very  heavy  freight  wagons. 
Their  cattle  all  perished  but  one  yoke ;  the  wood 
work  of  the  wagons  they  used,  as  long  as  they 
could  avail  themselves  of  a  splinter,  and  no  doubt 
they  thought  themselves  very  fortunate  in  get 
ting  through  alive  to  the  Missouri  River. 

Each  day  as  it  advanced  brought  with  it  the 
same  repetition  of  snow  and  bad  weather.  Many 
incidents  occurred  which  helped  to  change  the 


SECOND   COLORADOS.  39 

monotony  of  marching  day  by  day  through  the 
storm,  some  laughable  and  others  rather  of  the 
irritable  order.  One  man  who  loved  the  ardent, 
desiring  to  warm  the  inner  man,  and  intending  to 
do  so  at  the  expense  of  the  sick,  went  slyly  to  the 
hospital  ambulance  and  taking  therefrom  a  half- 
pint  bottle  of  burning  fluid  (in  mistake  for 
whiskey)  drank  it  down,  and  the  result  was  a 
very  sick  man.  He  was  placed  in  the  ambulance, 
the  end  gate  turned  down  that  his  head  could 
reach  over.  As  he  lay  there  vomiting  he  was  the 
picture  of  forlorn  misery,  many  jokes  were  passed 
at  his  expense.  Lieutenant  Gooding,  created  a 
laugh  by  saying :  "Boys,  don't  let  the  fluid  waste, 
we  will  put  a  wick  in  his  mouth  to-night  and  use 
him  for  a  lamp."  One  night,  a  very  hard  wind 
was  blowing,  with  snow  and  hail  cutting  through 
the  air,  the  Sibley  tents  were  twisting  and  scream 
ing  as  if  in.  torture,  when  all  at  once  a  gust 
stronger  than  the  rest  tore  out  the  guides  of  one 
next  to  ours ;  it  was  occupied  by  our  good-natured 
professor,  Tom  Willey,  his  wife  and  baby;  the 
wind  carried  the  fire  from  the  stove  into  the  bed, 
and  while  she  was  struggling  to  keep  the  fire  from 
consuming  the  bed,  he  was  pulling  at  the  ropes 
calling  for  help ;  and  the  hail  stinging  his  bare 
limbs,  made  him  dance  to  a  tune  he  had  never 
learned  to  play  on  his  violin,  an  instrument  he 
was  very  fond  of. 

On  the  eighteenth  of  December,  a  young  buffalo 
ran  into  camp  and  paid  for  its  temerity  with  its 


40  HISTORY  OF  THE 

life.  Its  carcass  was  a  great  luxury  and  much 
enjoyed  by  us  all ;  a  portion  was  handed  over  to 
me.  I  was  always  remembered  if  there  was  any 
thing  to  share.  The  next  day  was  extremely  cold 
with  very  rough  wind ;  but,  as  if  by  way  of  com 
pensation,  we  found  the  best  camping  ground  it 
had  been  our  fortune  to  obtain.  It  was  called 
Walnut  Creek.  There  was  plenty  of  wood,  water 
and  good  shelter.  A  stage-station  was  there 
which  seemed  to  bid  us  hope  that  we  would,  after 
a  while,  find  more  dwellings.  On  the  following 
day  we  passed  another,  and  as  we  were  now  on 
the  Smoky  Hill  route,  ranches  became  more  fre 
quent  and  from  them  we  were  able  to  get  feed  for 
the  animals,  which  began  to  show  the  evidence  of 
hard  suffering  on  the  march ;  and  the  men  began 
to  feel  as  if  it  was  home  coming,  for  here  were 
small  porkers  running  around  and  it  was  quite  a 
frolic  to  the  boys  to  give  them  chase  as  .they 
scampered  away  through  the  bush.  Here  was  fresh 
pork,  sausage,  and  pies  and  cakes  for  sale,  wilich 
after  such  a  march  was  a  delight  to  our  vision. 
Here  Major  Pritchard  gave  orders  for  a  general 
cleaning  up,  ever  soldier  thenceforth  making 
quite  a  different  appearance.  The  next  morning 
ushered  in  the  twenty-second  day  of  the  month ; 
we  started,  passing  through  the  town  of  Salina,  in 
Kansas,  and  camped  five  miles  beyond  in  a  belt  of 
timber,  which  seemed  alive  with  chickens,  quail 
and  turkeys,  and  at  a  ranch  across  the  river  were 
four  tame  buffalos,  used  on  the  place  to  haul  logs, 


SECOND  COLORADO^.  41 

etc.  Reports  here  reached  us  of  the  northern 
Sioux  Indians  being  on  the  war-path  and  commit 
ting  depredations,  but  we  saw  none  of  them.  We 
started  again  when  the  bugle  sounded  the  for 
ward,  crossed  the  Solomon  ferry,  and  here  a  mule 
fell  on  a  broken  bridge,  one  leg  slipping  through  a 
hole  in  the  plank,  but  it  was  helped  out  with  but 
little  damage.  At  our  next  camping  place  some 
went  to  a  house  near  by  and  partook  of  a  hotel 
dinner.  It  cost  twenty-five  cents  ;  that  was  great 
extravagance  for  a  poor  soldier  after  living  in  the 
snow  on  hard  tack  and  beans  so  long.  It  was  a 
luxury  to  set  down  on  a  chair  in  a  house  even. 

Christmas  morning  came  to  us  in  a  pouring 
rain,  the  mud  knee  deep ;  we  passed  through 
Junction  City,  a  nice  little  town,  and  on  to  Fort 
Riley.  Here  we  went  into  quarters,  which  was  a 
great  treat  after  such  a  hard  trip. 

We  saw  but  little  here  to  remind  us  we  were  in 
the  States,  only  one  company  and  a  small  guard 
set  who  seemed  mostly  beardless  boys. 

There  was  far  more  discipline  in  Colorado,  but 
the  garrison  did  one  good  to  look  at ;  a  soldier 
could  but  be  clean  here.  The  buildings  were 
finished  off  in  a  first-class  style.  Standing  as  it 
does  above  the  Eepublican  River,  which  runs 
through  a  belt  of  timber,  winding  round  the  garri 
son,  it  makes  a  picturesque  spot.  Even  the 
stables,  corn-cribs,  pastures  and  yards  are  finished 
off  in  a  neat  and  complete  manner,  giving  it  a 
tasty  appearance.  We  stayed  there  to  rest 


42  HISTORY  OF  THE 

for  a  few  days  and  the  weather  moderated  some. 
The  first  day  out  from  Fort  Riley  was  fine.  We 
crossed  the  Manhattan  Bridge  and  camped  on  the 
bottom.  It  was  an  extremely  wet  camping  ground, 
we  had  to  cut  a  brush  pile  to  place  our  beds  on ; 
the  ground  was  so  wet  and  soft  the  tent  pins 
were  pushed  in  by  hand.  The  weather  changed  so 
suddenly  in  the  night  that  next  morning  they  had 
to  be  chopped  out  with  an  axe.  We  crossed  the 
Kansas  Kiver  on  the  ice  and  passed  through 
Topeka,  then  but  a  small  town.  We  would  try 
to  obtain  shelter  some  nights  in  some  of  the  many 
houses  we  passed,  but  in  only  two  or  three  cases 
succeeded.  No  one  appeared  to  pity  us  poor 
women  and  children  out  in  that  inclement 
weather.  Day  by  day  it  grew  colder,  and  the 
Doctor  bade  us  stop  and  take  possession  of  an 
empty  log  cabin  by  the  road-side  and  there  stay 
till  the  weather  moderated  if  it  took  us  all  winter. 
That  was  the  order  of  Doctor  Vance  as  he  rode  off 
to  catch  up  with  the  command.  As  a  good 
soldier  obeys  orders  we  halted,  and  driving  the 
teams  round  to  the  shelter  of  the  cabin  unhitched, 
and  some  of  the  boys  building  a  fire  in  the  wide 
fire-place  we  prepared  the  supper,  and  such  a  one 
as  it  was  I  shall  never  forget.  The  beef,  o£  which 
we  had  a  fair  supply,  and  potatoes,  were  so  frozen 
that  it  was  impossible  to  make  any  impression  on 
them  with  a  knife.  To  peel  the  latter  was  impos 
sible  ;  to  throw  them  away  'would  never  do,  for 
we  had  been  so  long  without  potatoes  —  they 


SECOND  COLORADO^.  43 

were  the  gift  of  a  good  Union  man  on  our  route. 
One  of  the  men  therefore  suggested  that  we  hash 
up  together  both  beef  and  potatoes.  Accordingly 
he  took  an  axe  and  laying  both  on  a  clean  board 
he  minced  all  up  fine  together,  and  if  there  was  a 
little  soil  mixed  in,  I  must  say,  I  never  relished  a 
meal  half  as  well  before  or  since. 

We  piled  the  bags  on  high  and  wide,  but  Mrs. 
Willey  and  myself  could  do  but  little  else  than 
shiver,  although  the  warmest  place  was  given  us. 
It  was  I  think  the  coldest  night  I  ever  witnessed. 
The  poor  mules  although  sheltered  by  the  two 
wagons  and  house  seemed  to  be  almost  perishing 
on  their  feet,  as  they  stamped  and  kicked  in  the 
cold  night  air.  Here  we  passed  from  1863  to  1864. 

The  next  morning  we  started  to  catch  up  with 
the  command.  It  was  very  bright,  but  cold  and 
frosty  during  the  day.  Seeing  a  pedestrian  on  the 
road  our  men  inquired  if  he  had  seen  the  command 
pass  by.  His  answer  was,  "  Yaw,  yaw ;  they 
gone,  you  take  this  road,  'tis  the  shortest ;  you 
turn  dis  way,  to  de  left  (with  a  motion  of  the 
hand),  and  you  will  cross  a  leetle  pridge  over  the 
creek,  keep  to  the  left,  you  will  get  to  Cedar 
Creek  where  they  will  camp  to-night. "  We  did 
so,  and,  as  he  said,  made  camp  in  good  season. 

Mr.  McDougal  and  family  and  a  Mr.  Murphy 
should  have  especial  mention,  for  they  were 
extremely  kind  and  thoughtful.  They  sent  down 
straw  to  the  camp  for  the  men  to  sleep  on,  as  the 
ground  was  covered  with  snow,  and,  in  addition, 


44  HISTORY  OP  THE 

they  gave  them  fresh  pork  and  potatoes,  which 
was  one  of  the  greatest  treats  possible,  also  invit 
ing  the  families  to  go  to  their  houses  and  partake 
of  their  hospitality.  Their  kindness  I  shall  never 
forget.  The  march  was  telling  heavily  upon  my 
health,  and  the  fatigue  of  setting  tent,  packing 
and  unpacking,  was  for  once  omitted  much  to  my 
comfort.  I  was  thoroughly  interviewed  by  their 
pleasing  daughters,  from  whom  their  mother 
had  to  beg  me  off  to  get  a  little  rest.  We  pursued 
our  way  next  day.  It  was  hard  to  see  the  men 
foot-sore,  frost-bitten  and  weary.  After  a  few 
more  days  of  travel  we  reached  Kansas  City. 
Snow  still  covered  the  ground.  The  soldiers 
camped  in  it  for  a  few  days,  when  they  were 
ordered  to  quarters  to  report  for  duty  and  await  the 
arrival  of  the  rest  of  the  regiment,  then  on  their 
way  up  from  St.  Louis.  Mr.  Willey  and  my  hus 
band  rented  two  rooms  in  the  outskirt  of  the 
town,  so  as  to  be  handy  to  do  their  duty  as 
buglers. 

While  Major  Pritchard's  command  was  cross 
ing  the  plains  to  the  States,  the  rest  of  the  Second 
Colorado  Regiment,  then  doing  duty  down  in  the 
Arkansas  Nation,  received  orders  to  march  and 
report  at  Kansas  City,  preparatory  to  co'nsolida- 
tion.  The  Second  had  in  its  many  battles  and 
skirmishes  lost  many  of  its  brave  boys,  and  as  the 
Third  Regiment  had  never  been  full  an  order  was 
issued  from  headquarters,  Department  of  Missouri, 
announcing  the  organization  of  the  Second  Colo- 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  45 

rado  Cavalry,  as  formed  by  the  consolidation  of 
the  Second  and  Third  Regiments,  as  directed  in 
Special  Order  Number  278,  Headquarters  Depart 
ment  of  Missouri. 

When  organized,  its  officers  were  as  follows : 
James  H.  Ford,  colonel ;  Theodore  H.  Dodd,  lieu 
tenant-colonel  ;  Samuel  S.  Curtis,  first  major , 
J.  Nelson  Smith,  second  major ;  Jesse  L. 
Pritchard,  third  assistant  surgeon  ;  D.  M.  Vance, 
assistant  surgeon  ;  Robert  S.  Roe,  adjutant ;  J.  S. 
Cook,  quarter-master  (who  afterward  resigned, 
and  Guy  C.  Manville  was  promoted  to  the  posi 
tion)  ;  James  Burrell,  commissary ;  L.  Hamilton, 
chaplain.  Companies  K  of  the  Second  and  F,  G 
and  H  of  the  Third  Infantry,  were  broken  up  and 
the  men  assigned  to  the  other  companies  compos 
ing  the  regiment,  consisting  of  twelve  companies 
and  numbering  in  .all  over  one  thousand,  one 
hundred  men.  The  consolidation  having  been 
completed,  the  regiment  was  mounted  on  horses 
furnished  by  the  government,  or  rather  by  govern 
ment  contractors,  and  said  by  many  to  be  the 
finest  lot  of  horses  in  the  department,  which 
opinion  could  be  fully  admitted  on  comparison 
with  that  of  other  regiments.  A  considerable 
number  were,  however,  entirely  unfit  for  service, 
as  experience  proved ;  breaking  down  with  the 
least  exertion,  proving  utterly  incapable  of  per 
forming  the  duty  required  of  cavalry  horses.  The 
regiment  was  armed  with  the  government  sabre, 
Star's  carbine,  an  arm  capable  of  throwing  a  ball 


46  HISTORY  OF  THE 

with  great  force  and  precision  when  properly 
adjusted,  but  of  uncertain  fire,  a  very  important 
defect,  when  the  life  of  a  brave  man  was  depend 
ing  ;  also  Star's  revolver,  a  good  pistol,  with  one 
serious  objection,  the  revolving  apparatus  was  lia 
ble  get  to  out  of  order  after  a  few  discharges.  It 
seemed  strange,  with  such  imperfect  arms,  so  few 
accidents  should  happen,  only  one  or  two  being 
the  result  therefrom. 

On  the  sixteenth  of  January,  the  regiment  was 
placed  on  the  cars  and  started  for  Kansas  City, 
Missouri,  arriving  at  Dresden  (at  that  time  the 
terminus  of  the  Pacific  Eailroad  and  distant  from 
St.  Louis  about  two  hundred  miles)  the  next  day. 
The  night  was  extremely  cold,  and  the  men,  a 
large  number  of  them,  were  placed  in  the  cars 
without  stoves  or  fire,  and  experienced  great  diffi 
culty  in  keeping  from  freezing,  being  confined  to 
the  limits  of  the  crowded  cars  with  but  little 
room  for  exercise.  The  horses  were  crowded  into 
as  small  a  space  as  possible  in  the  open  cars  for 
sure  conveyance,  but  a  large  number  were 
severely  "  corked,"  caused  by  the  sudden  starting 
and  stopping  of  the  train.  On  arriving  at  Dres 
den  the  regiment  went  into  Camp  Smith,  where  it 
remained,  with  the  exception  of  the  battallion 
that  proceeded  to  Kansas  City,  until  about  the 
fifteenth  of  February,  when  it  again  took  up  the 
line  of  march,  and  passing  through  Warrens- 
burgh  on  the  sixteenth,  arrived  at  Kansas  City 
about  the  twentieth  of  February,  1864. 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  4Y 

In  passing  through  the  counties  of  Jackson  and 
Cass,  the  country  was  found  to  be  overrun  with 
marauders.  These  marauders,  or  banditti,  became 
so  numerous  and  bold  in  their  nefarious  trans 
actions,  and  such  difficulty  was  experienced  in 
apprehending  and  punishing  the  guilty,  that  it  was 
deemed  necessary,  in  order  to  insure  justice  to  all 
parties,  to  cause  the  immediate  abandonment  by 
the  inhabitants  of  these  counties.  About  the 
twenty-third  of  September,  1863,  the  order  was 
issued  by  General  Ewing,  giving  them  fifteen 
days  to  leave  the  counties,  which  was  speedily 
obeyed  by  the  inhabitants.  Troops  were 
stationed  in  the  different  parts  of  the  sub-district, 
and  the  country  overran ;  houses  burned  to  the 
ground,  causing  the  country  once  so  fertile  to 
resemble  a  wilderness,  with  homes  deserted,  fields 
of  ground  abandoned  by  the  faithful  plow.  It 
looked  sad,  but  it  left  no  sustenance  for  the  bush 
whackers,  and  but  few  places  of  shelter.  Of  that 
few  they  were  ever  ready  to  take  advantage, 
hiding  behind  there  friendly  walls  and  at  every 
opportunity  shooting  at  our  troops  who  had  occa 
sion  to  go  near  or  past ;  it  was  their  favorite  past- 
time  and  mode  of  warfare,  to  take  our  troops 
unaware,  never  in  any  instance  meeting  them 
bravely  face  to  face.  On  the  fourteenth  of  Janu 
ary,  1864,  General  Brown,  who  was  at  that  time  in 
command  of  the  district  of  Central  Missouri,  issued 
an  order  from  headquarters,  allowing  all  loyally 
disposed  citizens,  who  had  been  driven  from  their 


48  HISTORY  OF  THIS 

homes,  to  return  on  conditions,  viz.  :  that  they 
should  be  ever  ready  to  assist  the  government  in 
its  endeavors  to  put  down  the  rebellion,  and  pro 
tect  themselves  and  their  homes  from  all  enemies. 
The  same  general  order  assigned  Colonel  James 
H.  Ford,  Second  Colorado  Cavalry,  to  the  com 
mand  of  the  fourth  sub-district,  district  of 
Missouri,  headquarters  at  Kansas  City,  Missouri. 

Colonel  Ford  assumed  command  on  the  eigh 
teenth  day  of  February,  and  appointed  Lieutenant 
E.  L.  Berthoud,  then  of  Company  E,  acting 
assistant  adjutant-general,  and  Captain  J.  C.  W. 
Hall,  of  Company  B,  assistant  provost-marshal. 

On  assuming  command,  Colonel  Ford  pro 
ceeded  to  distribute  his  forces  throughout  the 
sub-district,  in  such  a  manner  as  would  be  best 
calculated  to  conduct  the  campaign  against  the 
squads  of  bushwhackers,  and  at  the  same  time  be 
able  to  concentrate  his  forces  with  little  delay  on 
the  appearance  of  a  superior  force  of  the  enemy. 
Among  the  stations  announced  were  the  follow 
ing  :  Kansas  City,  Independence,  eight  miles  east, 
West  Point,  three  miles  south,  Hickmann's  Mills, 
sixteen  miles  south,  Pleasant  Hill,  thirty-five  miles 
south-east,  and  Harrisonville,  about  forty-five 
miles  south  from  Kansas  City.  At  this  time  the 
bushwhackers  were  comparatively  quiet,  confin 
ing  their  efforts  to  an  occasional  midnight  assas 
sination  or  robbery,  evidently  deferring  operations 
on  a  large  scale  until  the  leaves  came  out  on  the 
trees  to  afford  them  protection  in  their  fiendish 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  49 

work.  Nevertheless,  the  troops  at  the  different 
stations  were  not  idle,  but  were  actively  engaged 
in  scouring  the  country  and  becoming  acquainted 
with  its  geographical  position,  the  roads  and 
by-ways,  learning  each  nook  and  corner  as  well 
as  the  inhabitants,  who  consisted  chiefly  of 
" widows"  (?)  whose  husbands  had  gone  to  the 
war  and  who  were  strictly  loyal  to  the  govern 
ment  of  the  southern  confederacy !  So  much 
diligence  was  exercised  by  the  troops,  that  by  the 
first  of  June  there  was  scarcely  a  locality,  road  or 
by-path  through  the  country,  including  the  famous 
Sni  Hills,  with  which  they  were  not  thoroughly 
familiar  ;  a  very  important  feature  in  hunting 
bushwhackers. 

Many  were  the  ruses  and  schemes  employed  by 
our  soldiers  to  discover  the  haunts  of  these 
brigands.  After  dashing  up  to  and  surrounding 
houses  at  dead  of  night  when  the  male  inmates, 
who  were  supposed  to  be  in  the  brush,  would  be 
likely  to  visit  their  homes,  and  not  unfrequently 
repeating  their  visit  the  same  night  in  order  to 
entrap  any  one  who  had  watched  their  move 
ments  and  supposed  them  far  away.  It  was  a 
dangerous,  as  well  as  unpleasant  duty  to  perform, 
not  knowing  what  moment  a  leaden  message  of 
death  would  be  sent  crashing  through  the  brain 
from  the  hands  of  an  unseen  foe,  who  lay  in 
ambush  waiting  for  the  troops  to  pass  and  who 
almost  universally  possessed  the  advantage  of 
having  the  first  fire  (which  was  generally  their 


50  HISTORY  OF  THE 

last),  their  cowardly  dispositions  not  allowing 
them  to  dare  risk  an  open  conflict,  unless  they 
possessed  superior  advantages  in  the  strength  of 
their  forces.  Little  was  accomplished  by  either 
party  until  about  the  first  of  May,  after  the  trees 
and  brush  were  densely  covered  with  leaves  suffi 
cient  to  screen  the  banditti  in  their  nefarious 
transactions,  and  protect  them  from  the  scrutiniz 
ing  search  of  the  troops,  who  were  almost 
constantly  hunting  for  them  using  every  means  in 
their  power  to  catch,  destroy  and  drive  from  the 
country  the  villianous  scoundrels. 

Sergeant  P.  F.  Russell,  of  Company  I,  with 
twenty  men,  had  been  stationed  at  Dayton,  a 
small  town  on  Grand  Eiver  in  Cass  County,  to 
watch  the  crossing.  On  the  morning  of  the 
twenty-seventh  of  April,  a  party  of  men  clothed  in 
Federal  uniform  were  seen  passing  near  the 
station,  and  Russell  supposing  them  to  be  some  of 
our  own  men  rode  out  to  halt  them.  As  they 
were  passing  over  a  point  of  rising  ground  two  of 
the  party  were  seen  to  fall  in  the  rear  apparently 
awaiting  for  Russell  to  come  up,  when  they  all 
disappeared  over  the  brow  of  the  hill.  Mistrust 
ing  some  foul  play  a  reconnoifcance  was  made, 
but  nothing  could  be  seen  of  the  party ;  two  days 
afterward  the  body  of  Russell  was  found  about 
eight  miles  from  Dayton,  on  the  prairie  pierced 
through  the  head  with  a  ball  and  his  watch  and 
money  taken.  He  evidently  did  not  discover  his 
fatal  mistake  until  arriving  in  their  midst,  and 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  51 

was  surrounded  and  hurried  away  utterly  unable 
to  offer  any  resistance.  The  band  was  a  part  of 
QuantrelFs  or  Todd's  gang. 

About  the  same  time,  privates  Stone  and  John 
son  of  the  same  company,  while  carrying 
dispatches  from  Harrisonville  to  Johnstown,  were 
fired  upon  by  a  party  of  bushwhackers  on  Grand 
River  and  driven  back  across  the  stream.  They 
succeeded  in  making  their  escape,  after  running 
many  narrow  chances  for  life,  and  reached  Johns 
town  three  days  afterward.  A  party  of  four  or 
five  widows  (?)  living  in  the  eastern  part  of  Jack 
son  County,  and  whose  husbands  were  known  to 
be  in  the  brush,  were  arrested  about  the  twen 
tieth  of  May,  and  sent  to  Kansas  City  in  charge  of 
Sergeant  Freeman  and  seven  men.  The  escort 
returning  the  next  day  were  ambushed  by  a 
party  of  bushwhackers,  twenty-five  or  thirty  in 
number,  near  the  crossing  of  the  Little  Blue  on 
the  Independance  and  Lone  Jack  road.  One  of 
the  boys  by  the  name  of  Vogt  was  shot  twice 
through  the  head  and  fell  dead  from  his  horse ; 
another  by  the  name  of  Sowell,  was  severely 
wounded  and  fell  from  his  horse,  but  partially 
recovering  succeeded  in  getting  re-mounted  behind 
Sergeant  Freeman,  who  exhibited  great  courage 
and  presence  of  mind  during  the  affray,  but  soon 
afterward  Sowell  received  another  shot  in  the 
head  which  felled  him  the  second  time  ;  but,  sur 
prising  to  relate,  succeeded  in  making  his  escape 
into  the  brush,  where  he  spent  the  night,  and 


52  HISTORY  OF  THE 

came  into  camp  the  next  day  with  six  bullet 
wounds  on  his  person.  The  rest  of  the  party 
fortunately  got  off  unharmed,  having  to  abandon 
the  train  in  charge,  which  the  banditti  disposed  off 
by  shooting  the  six  mules  and  burning  the  wagon, 
after  taking  therefrom  such  things  as  they  could 
appropriate  ;  an  opportunity  which  they  never 
overlooked,  as  they  invariably  stripped  whenever 
they  could  get  a  chance. 

Meanwhile,  in  and  around  Independence,  they 
continued  their  fiendish  work,  killing  all  men 
(who  would  not  join  in  their  barbarity)  without 
discrimination.  On  the  twenty -ninth  of  April,  a 
detachment  of  our  troops  under  command  of  Lieu 
tenant  Spencer,  pursued  on  the  trail  of  a  party  of 
bushwhackers  between  Lone  Jack  and  the  Sni 
Hills.  Coming  up  with  them  they  charged  them, 
but  the  bandits  were  well  mounted,  as  they  took 
care  no  one  should  have  a  good  horse  if  it  suited 
them.  The  horses  of  two  of  the  boys  had  borne 
them  far  in  advance  of  the  others,  which  proved 
fatal  to  them,  killing  one  and  wounding  the  other. 
The  one  who  fell  dead  at  the  first  fire  was  George 
Wells,  private  of  Company  K ;  the  other  was 
John  Freestone,  of  Company  G,  who  was  severely 
wounded.  On  the  thirteenth  of  June,  Sergeant- 
Ma  j  or  Hennion  with  an  escort  of  eight  men  and  a 
six-mule  team  in  charge,  was  attacked  about  five 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  about  four  miles  south 
west  of  Westport,  on  the  Hickman's  Mill  road,  by 
a  band  of  twenty-five  or  thirty  bushwhackers  un- 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  53 

der  the  infamous  desperado,  Dick  Yager.  The 
first  volley  fired,  although  not  over  twenty  feet 
distant,  had  no  other  effect  than  the  wounding  of 
Hennion  slightly  in  the  ankle  and  the  complete 
surprise  of  our  little  party,  who  fired  several  hur 
ried  shots  and  took  to  the  brush,  closely  pursued. 
At  the  second  discharge  from  the  enemy  Hen- 
nioii's  horse  was  killed  and  the  cylinder  blown 
from  his  revolver  at  the  same  time ;  but  he  suc 
ceeded  in  making  his  escape  into  the  brush,  where 
he  lay  until  ten  o'clock  that  night  and  reached 
Kansas  City  the  next  morning  at  six  o'clock  with 
three  bullet  holes  in  his  jacket  and  one  through 
his  pants.  The  rest  of  the  party  succeeded  in 
getting  away  unharmed.  Two  of  them  who 
were  in  advance  hastened  forward  to  Hickman's 
Mill  for  re-inforcements,  and  one  of  the  party  set 
out  during  the  night  and  reached  Hickman's  Mill 
next  day.  The  banditti  captured  the  team,  un 
loaded  some  goods  belonging  to  Mrs.  Johnson,  of 
Company  L,  and  directed  her  to  a  house  near  by 
where  she  could  stay  until  relief  would  come. 
They  then  set  fire  to  the  wagon,  killed  two  of  the 
mules  and  wounded  a  third,  which  they  left ; 
the  other  three  they  appropriated  to  their  own  use. 
Some  days  afterward  a  fresh  grave  was  found 
near  the  spot,  supposed  to  be  that  of  a  bush 
whacker  killed  in  the  encounter. 

The  frequency  of  these  attacks  and  the  increas 
ing  temerity  of  the  assassins  required  energetic 
action  on  the  part  of  our  troops,  consequently 


54  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Colonel  Ford  ordered  the  regiment  into  the  field 
and  established  its  headquarters  near  a  deserted 
village  called  Kaytown,  situated  on  the  Independ 
ence  and  Hickman's  Mill  road,  and  sixteen  miles 
distant  from  Kansas  City.  From  this  point  the 
troops,  under  Majors  Smith  and  Pritchard  and 
other  officers  of  the  regiment;  scoured  the  country 
in  every  direction,  sometimes  mounted  and  at  oth 
er  times  dismounted,  which  had  the  desired  effect 
of  driving  the  marauders  from  that  portion  of  the 
country  to  seek  a  safer  and  more  congenial  lati 
tude.  During  one  of  these  scouts,  Corporal  Mar 
tin,  of  Company  H,  with  ten  men,  some  two  miles 
east  of  camp,  were  quietly  passing  along,  when 
hearing  a  noise  as  if  some  persons  were  talking  in 
the  distance,  quickly  concealed  themselves  in  the 
brush.  Our  party  awaited  the  approach  of  the 
other  party,  who  coming  within  fifty  yards  were 
discovered  to  be  bushwhackers,  five  in  number, 
and  were  immediately  fired  upon  by  the  scout.  A 
ball  from  the  gun  of  private  Jones,  of  Company  H, 
passed  through  the  hip  of  one  of  the  enemy  named 
Young,  wounding  him  severely,  but  his  horse  car 
ried  him  off.  Pursuing  the  course  taken  by  them 
and  coming  up  to  a  house,  the  alarm  was  given 
by  some  one  who  acted  as  sentinel,  and  out  rushed 
the  same  party  and  after  a  hurried  exchange  of 
shots  disappeared  in  the  brush.  Young,  the 
wounded  man,  was  killed  a  short  time  afterward. 
Headquarters  of  the  regiment  remained  at  Kay- 
town  about  one  month,  during  which  time  the 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  55 

troops  were  kept  constantly  on  the  move.  Vari 
ous  expedients  were  resorted  to  to  entrap  the  ene 
my,  but  they  had  become  aware  of  the  dangerous 
locality  and  quietly  decamped  until  a  more  favor 
able  opportunity  presented  itself.  As  they  were 
always  on  the  alert  such  opportunity  was  not 
long  wanting.  They  were  always  ready  to  jump 
out  from  behind  a  fence  corner  or  an  old  cabin 
and  shoot  down  in  cold  blood  the  unwary,  in  evi 
dence  of  which  on  the  twenty-sixth  day  of  May, 
Thomas  Herrington  and  William  Ford,  the  latter 
known  as  Pat  Ford  (in  the  regiment),  both  pri 
vates  of  Company  A,  were  detailed  to  carry  ex 
press  from  Hickman's  Mill  to  Pleasant  Hill  and 
back.  On  their  return  trip  when  a  few  miles  from 
Pleasant  Hill,  a  messenger  dressed  in  Federal  uni 
form  halted  them  just  as  they  turned  to  pass  a 
heavy  thicket  of  brush.  Laying  his  hand  on  the 
bridle  of  one  of  the  horses,  he  said  he  had  orders 
for  them  to  return  to  Pleasant  Hill  for  some  dis 
patches  that  had  been  omitted.  Not  thinking  it 
was  a  ruse  to  take  them  at  a  disadvantage  they 
listened  unguardedly,  when,  in  an  instant,  sever 
al  more  made  their  appearance.  They  found  out 
when  too  late  they  were  in  the  hands  of  the  most 
villainous  cut-throats.  On  seeing  how  they  were 
entrapped  they  raised  their  guns  to  fire,  but  were 
immediately  covered  with  six  or  eight  revolvers  in 
the  hands  of  the  enemy,  who  assured  them  if  they 
would  surrender  they  should  not  be  harmed. 
They  then  took  their  horses,  arms  and  dispatches, 


56  HISTORY  OF  THE 

and  after  holding  them  prisoners  for  a  few  hours 
they  shot  them  down  in  cold  blood.  Thomas  Her- 
rington  seemed  to  have  been  shot  without  warn 
ing  ;  the  ball  passed  through  the  head  and  he 
apparently  died  without  a  struggle.  William  Ford 
had  evidently  fought  hard  for  his  life,  for  he  had 
many  wounds  iu  his  head  and  shoulders.  Poor 
boys  !  theirs  was  a  sad  fate.  They  were  beloved 
and  regretted  by  all  their  comrades.  Their  bodies 
were  taken  to  Pleasant  Hill,  and  the  ladies  of  that 
town  kindly  performed  the  last  sad  duties  for 
them  and  decorated  their  graves  with  flowers. 

They  brought  the  fairest  flowerets,  the  brightest  flowers  that 

bloom, 
To  deck  our  comrade's  clay-cold  brows,  to  deck  our  comrade's 

tomb  ; 

We  never  shall  forget  the  hands,  the  kindly  ones  which  gave 
That  last  kind  tribute  to  the  dead,  to  deck  with  flowers  their 

grave. 

We  loved  them,  we've  stood  side  by  side  'mid  cannon's  deafen 
ing  rattle, 

And  bore  our  stars  and  banner  on  through  many  a  hard 
fought  battle  ; 

We  loved  them,  they  were  dear  to  us  as  brother  is  to  brother, 

For  soldiers  in  this  war  and  strife  grow  dear  to  one  another. 

Two  fathers  long,  aye,  long  ago  in  earthly  beds  were  sleeping  ; 

Two  mothers  dear  are  left  alone  and  for  their  loved  ones 
weeping ; 

What  calm  each  mother's  heart  to  know  that  woman's  gentle 
care 

Hath  gazed  upon  their  forms  and  placed  the  beauteous  blos 
soms  there. 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  57 

The  soldier's  heart  is  gushing  full  of  gratitude  and  love, 
They  only  hope  to  meet  with  such  angelic  forms  above  ; 
Their  blessings  rest  upon  the  brows  of  those,  the  good  and 

fair, 
Who  placed  the  early  flowers  of  spring  upon  their  comrade  s 

bier. 

C.  WILLIAMS,  Co.  A. 


58  HISTORY  OF  THE 


CHAPTER  V. 

A  few  days  previous  to  this  sad  occurrence,  on 
the  tenth  day  of  May,  Lieutenant  Gooding  with 
twenty  men  of  Companies  H  and  G  started  from 
Pleasant  Hill  after  night  had  set  in  on  a  scout 
of  three  days'  duration ;  on  the  night  of  the 
second  day  out,  while  scouting  twenty  miles 
north-east  of  Pleasant  Hill,  they  drew  up  to  a 
house  owned  by  one  named  Webb.  Upon  enter 
ing,  although  past  eleven  o'clock,  the  table  was 
found  ready  ' (  set "  and  every  necessary  prepara 
tion  made  for  a  meal ;  upon  inquiry,  our  party 
was  informed  that  there  was  no  bushwhackers  in 
the  country,  but  —  not  being  inclined  to  give 
credence  to  the  smooth  tongues  and  unqualified 
assertions  of  the  "  war- widows, "  who  were  so 
numerous  in  that  portion  of  the  country  and 
who  could  live  there  unmolested  while  depreda 
tions  were  being  committed  all  around  them  — 
our  boys  kept  a  sharp  look-out,  and  after  leaving 
the  house  and  proceeding  cautiously  along  the 
road  some  three  miles,  they  were  met  by  a  party 
of  four  men,  who  were  just  emerging  from  the 
brush  and  could  barely  be  discerned  in  the  dark 
ness  of  the  night.  "Who  are  you?"  challenged 
their  leader.  "  Who  are  you?"  demanded  Good- 


SECOND   COLORADOS.  59 

ing,  while  every  man  grasped  his  revolver  with  a 
firmer  grip.  Without  deigning  to  give  answer 
the  four  men  wheeled  about,  put  spurs  to  their 
horses  and  fled  through  the  thick  under-brush, 
amid  a  shower  of  bullets  from  the  well  directed 
fire  of  the  advance.  The  next  day  the  dead 
bodies  of  two  of  the  bandits  were  found  near  the 
scene  of  the  encounter. 

During  the  campaign  a  portion  of  the  troops 
had  been  stationed  at  Camp  Smith,  some  three 
miles  south-west  of  Independence,  and,  on  the 
sixth  of  July,  Captain  S.  Wagoner,  of  Company 
C,  and  twenty-five  of  his  men  left  camp  and 
proceeded  in  a  north-easterly  direction  until 
reaching  the  Pleasant  Hill  and  Independence 
road,  about  eight  miles  distant  from  the  latter 
mentioned  place ;  here  they  saw  four  men  who 
immediately  took  to  flight,  and  while  pursuing 
them  our  party  was  charged  upon  by  nearly  one 
hundred  bushwhackers,  who  were  lying  in  ambush 
awaiting  their  approach.  Unconscious  of  the 
presence  of  so  large  a  body  of  the  foe  until  they 
rushed  forth  from  the  dense  thicket,  with  savage 
yells  that  would  have  done  credit  to  a  parcel  of 
redskins,  and  poured  a  deadly  volley  into  the 
midst  of  the  scouts,  who,  nothing  daunted,  firmly 
stood  their  ground,  and,  with  their  brave  Captain 
leading  them  on,  returned  the  fire,  although  out 
numbered  four  to  one  by  the  foe,  who  came 
rushing  on  until  the  combatants  were  mingled 
together,  fighting  a  hand-to-hand  encounter 


60  HISTORY  OF  THE 

midst  the  fallen  dead  and  dying.  The  gallant 
Wagoner  fell,  mortally  wounded,  and  dragging 
himself  a  few  feet  to  one  side  he  gave  a  farewell 
shot,  that  sent  an  enemy  reeling  to  the  ground 
with  his  life  blood  spurting  from  the  wound, 
and  shouted,  "Give  them  death,  boys,"  and 
breathed  his  last.  Completely  overpowered  by 
numbers  our  troops  were  forced  to  fall  back  and 
surrender  the  field  to  the  enemy,  with  the  loss  of 
their  valiant  Captain  and  seven  brave  men  killed 
and  one  wounded.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  was 
nine  killed  and  fifteen  wounded. 

They  took  the  arms  and  what  money  was  on 
the  persons  of  our  boys  and  left  their  bodies  lying 
as  they  fell,  where  a  strong  force  of  our  troops 
who  were  sent  out  found  them,  and  brought 
them  to  Independence  the  next  morning  and 
buried  them  in  a  body  in  the  cemetery  with  a 
brick  wall  surrounding  the  entire  number;  and 
the  company,  assisted  by  the  officers  of  the 
regiment,  erected  a  fine  marble  monument  to 
mark  their  resting-place.  I  was  requested  to 
write  an  inscription  and  in  answer  I  wrote  the 
following  which  was  inscribed  on  the  monument 
erected  in  the  cemetery  at  Independence,  in  Mis 
souri  : 

"  Brave  heroes  rest  beneath  this  sculptured  stone ; 
In  unfair  contest  slain  by  murderous  hands. 
They  knew  no  yielding  to  a  cruel  foe — 
And  thus,  this  tribute  to  their  memory  stands 
Our  country's  honor,  and  a  nation's  pride 
'Twos  thus  they  nobly  lived  and  bravely  died," 


SECOND   COLORADOS.  61 

Captain  Wagoner  was  a  brave  man,  of  which 
his  surviving  comrades  were  ready  to  testify. 
His  loss  and  that  of  the  brave  men  who  fell  with 
him  cast  a  gloom  over  the  entire  regiment. 

Notwithstanding  the  increased  vigilance  of  our 
troops  in  scouring  the  country  in  search  of  these 
brigands,  it  was  seldom  they  caught  them  ' '  nap 
ping,"  for  they  were  cognizant  of  the  danger  they 
were  incurring  by  remaining  in  the  country  and 
committing  their  depredations,  and  were  cautious 
of  their  movements ;  only  making  a  demonstra 
tion  when  assured  of  success  on  their  part. 
Being  intimately  acquainted  with  the  entire 
country  (having  resided  there  for  years)  and 
having  the  advantage  of  acting  on  the  defensive, 
when  our  troops  were  sent  in  pursuit  of  them, 
they  for  a  long  time  succeeded  in  evading  an 
open  collision  with  them,  feeling  uninclined  to 
extend  their  acquaintance  with  men  who  gave 
them  such  a  rough  introduction.  About  this 
time  a  desperado  by  the  name  of  Thornton  came 
into  the  counties  on  the  north  side  of  the  river, 
and  was  collecting  together  all  the  bushwhackers 
and  other  vagabonds  that  would  flock  to  his 
standard,  in  order  to  go  into  offensive  operations 
against  the  Union  people  on  a  large  scale  and 
finally  escape  to  the  Southern  army,  as  it  was 
getting  rather  warm  for  their  comfort  and  safety. 
Through  the  spies  he  had  employed  to  watch  the 
movements  of  the  enemy,  Colonel  Ford  learned 
of  their  place  of  rendezvous,  and  about  two 


62  HISTORY  OF  THE 

o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  thirteenth  of  July, 
he  quietly  embarked  on  board  the  Fanny  Ogden, 
and  the  Emilie,  with  about  three  hundred  men,  in 
the  midst  of  a  heavy  rain-storm,  and  proceeded  as 
far  as  Weston,  a  town  on  the  north  bank  of  the 
Missouri  River,  about  seven  miles  above  Leaven- 
worth  City,  landing  at  this  point  the  troops 
bivouaced,  until  twelve  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
and  being  re-inforced  by  a  portion  of  the  Sixteenth 
Kansas  Cavalry,  under  Colonel  Jennison,  the 
column  moved  toward  Camden  Point,  a  town  of 
one  hundred  and  fifty  inhabitants,  arriving  within 
four  miles  of  the  town  our  advance  encountered 
the  rebel  pickets,  who  hastily  fired  a  volley  and 
retreated,  pursued  by  the  advance  who  succeeded 
in  killing  two  of  their  number ;  the  others  made 
their  escape  into  the  thick  brush  on  the  road-side : 
the  Brigade  was  formed  in  fours,  and  the  order 
"  galop"  was  given  and  the  column  moved  for 
ward  at  a  rapid  rate,  over  the  road,  Company  F 
(Captain  West)  leading  the  advance ;  on  arriving 
at  the  town,  the  rebels  were  found  drawn  up  in 
line  about  three  hundred  and  fifty  strong,  ready 
for  battle ;  Captain  West  also  formed  his  men  in 
line  at  hailing  distance  and  demanded,  "Who 
are  you  ? "  The  question  was  reiterated  by  the  rebel 
leader.  West  replied,  "  Captain  West,  of  the 
Second  Colorado  !  "  The  reply  came  back,  proud 
and  defiant,  "  We  do  not  recognize  Captain  West 
and  his  party,"  and  the  rebel  colors  were  immedi 
ately  displayed.  Captain  West  instantly  ordered 


SECOND   COLORADOS.  63 

a  charge,  and  the  rebel  ranks  were  broken  and 
scattered  by  the  fierce  onset  of  our  troops ;  who 
bore  down  on  the  foe  like  an  avalanche,  sweeping 
all  before  them,  amid  the  smoke  and  din  of  battle, 
and  the  wild,  deafening  cheers  of  our  men,  that 
rang  out  loud  and  clear  upon  the  air,  and  was 
echoed  and  re-echoed  through  the  surrounding 
forest,  the  rebel  forces,  after  exchanging  a  few 
volleys,  fled  in  every  direction  in  the  wildest  con 
fusion,  in  many  instances  leaving  their  horses  and 
equipments,  and  quite  a  number  throwing  down 
their  arms,  taking  to  the  brush  pursued  closely  by 
our  troops,  who  having  become  exasperated  by 
their  former  fiendishness,  shot  them  down  like  so 
many  dogs  without  mercy.  The  main  portion  fled 
on  the  road  leading  east  of  the  town,  and  were  hot 
ly  pursued  for  nearly  five  miles,  but  being  mount 
ed  on  fresh  horses  they  finally  escaped  and  our 
troops  returned  and  camped  on  the  same  ground 
occupied  previously  by  their  forces.  Our  loss 
was  one  man  killed  (Private  Flannegan)  and  one 
wounded  (Sergeant  Crane),  both  of  Company  F ; 
that  of  the  rebels  was  twenty-one  killed,  if  any 
were  wounded  they  made  their  escape. 

In  this  action  the  rebel  colors,  which  was  pre 
sented  to  them  by  the  ladies  of  Platte  City  and 
bore  the  motto — "Protect  Missouri,"  was  cap 
tured  by  Company  F.  The  next  day  Colonel 
Ford's  command  pushed  forward  in  the  direction 
of  Platte  City,  a  small  town  about  eight  miles 
south-east  of  Camden  Point,  containing  some  three 


64  HISTORY  OF  THE 

or  four  hundred  inhabitants,  and  noted  for  being 
a  place  of  rendezvous  for  bushwhackers  and  rebels. 
A  small  rebel  sheet  had  been  published  here,  sup 
ported  by  the  citizens  of  the  town  and  the  sur 
rounding  country,  flourishing  under  the  title  of 
The  Platte  City  Register.  The  command  arrived 
here  about  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning,  camped 
and  remained  until  next  day,  with  the  exception 
of  Company  K,  under  Lieutenant  Parsons,  which 
continued  on  the  trail  of  the  remnant  of  the  party 
'of  bushwhackers  who  were  defeated  at  Camden 
Point.  On  the  morning  of  the  fifteenth,  Colonel 
Ford  and  his  command  moved  toward  Liberty, 
the  county  seat  of  Clay  County,  where  they  ar 
rived  at  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  and  went 
into  camp.  Headquarters  remaining  at  this  place 
for  several  days,  detachments  in  the  meantime 
were  sent  out  to  various  portions  of  the  surround 
ing  country,  at  different  times,  in  order  to  inter 
cept  any  small  parties  of  bushwhackers  that  might 
be  prowling  about,  and  also  to  get  any  informa 
tion  of  the  whereabouts  of  Thornton's  gang,  who 
were  supposed  to  be  collecting  again  for  the  pur 
pose  of  making  their  escape  out  of  the  country. 
On  the  twenty-first  of  the  month,  about  forty 
men  belonging  to  the  Second  Colorado,  in  charge 
of  Lieutenant  Hammond,  of  the  Seventh  Missouri, 
proceeded  from  Kansas  City  according  to  instruc 
tions  from  Colonel  Ford,  to  join  his  command  at 
Liberty.  Upon  arriving  at  this  place  the  com 
mand  had  already  gone,  proceeding  north  on  the 


SECOND  COLORADO^.  65 

Plattsburg  road,  instructions  having  been  left  for 
the  re-inforcements  under  Lieutenant  Hammond 
to  follow  the  command.  Hastily  feeding  the 
horses,  allowing  them  but  a  few  minutes  to  rest, 
at  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  we  were  in  the 
saddle  again  on  the  road  to  Plattsburg,  moving 
at  a  lively  walk  and  frequently  breaking  into  a 
long,  steady  gallop,  while  the  dust  arose  in  clouds, 
covering  the  horses  already  wet  with  perspiration, 
and  clothing  the  riders  with  so  dense  a  coating 
that  their  countenances  were  barely  distinguish 
able. 

About  eleven  o'clock  at  night  we  reached  a 
house  on  the  road- side,  within  six  miles  of  Platts 
burg,  where  the  detachment  halted  for  water  and 
to  make  inquiries  concerning  Colonel  Ford's  com 
mand.  Upon  hailing  the  inmates  of  the  house, 
who  had  retired,  a  female  voice  replied  by  asking 
who  we  were.  Lieutenant  Hammond  replied, 
"We  are  soldiers  and  want  to  speak  to  you,  if 
you  will  come  to  the  door,"  to  which  no  reply  was 
given.  Awaiting  a  sufficient  length  of  time  and 
no  one  appearing  the  Lieutenant  called  the  second 
time,  assuring  them  no  harm  should  befall  them, 
but  that  he  only  wanted  to  make  some  inquiries  ; 
but  no  response  being  given  he  ordered  them  to 
open  the  door  or  he  would  break  it  down.  Upon 
this  being  threatened  a  stir  was  heard  inside  and 
a  window  was  suddenly  thrown  open  on  the  rear 
of  the  house,  and  a  man  in  his  night-dress  sprang 
to  the  ground  and  bounded  into  a  dense  grove  of 


66  HISTORY  OF  THE 

locust  bushes  near  by,  closely  grazed  by  a  ball 
from  the  carbine  of  one  of  the  party.  His  exit 
was  unexpected,  and,  consequently,  unprepared 
for.  The  moment  the  shrill  report  of  the  gun 
rang  upon  the  still  night  air  a  series  of  piercing 
screams  issued  from  within  the  building,  the  fe 
males  supposing  the  rifle  had  done  its  work.  The 
soldiers  sprang  from  their  saddles  and  clearing  the 
fence  pursued  the  direction  taken  by  the  fugitive, 
but  under  cover  of  the  darkness  of  the  night  he 
succeeded  in  escaping  in  an  adjacent  cornfield. 
Disappointed  in  not  securing  the  man  and  exas 
perated  at  their  refusal  to  come  forth,  the  Lieu 
tenant  returned  to  the  house,  which  by  this  time 
had  been  broken  open,  and  in  no  very  mild  terms 
assured  the  inmates — consisting  of  three  women — 
that  for  their  obstinate  conduct  in  refusing  to 
open  the  door,  and  also  secreting  a  bushwhacker, 
they  richly  merited  the  burning  of  the  house  to 
the  ground,  whereas,  had  they  complied  with  his 
request,  they  would  have  been  unmolested. 

The  house  was  searched,  but  no  arms  were  found 
and  the  party  mounted  their  horses  and  passed  on. 
Marching  on  some  three  miles  further  the  com 
mand  drew  up  to  a  house  by  the  road-side,  and 
upon  inquiry,  learned  that  Colonel  Ford's  com 
mand  had  left  the  road  and  marched  across  the 
country  toward  Grosnerville,  a  small  place  some 
sixteen  miles  distant  and  in  a  westerly  direction  ; 
the  horses  being  very  much  fatigued  and  the  men 
wearied  with  the  long  ride  and  the  want  of  sleep, 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  6T 

and  it  being  almost  impossible  to  follow  the  trail 
by  starlight,  Lieutenant  Hammond  thought  it  best 
to  halt  and  rest  till  daylight ;  securing  the  horses 
and  scaling  the  fence,  the  boys  soon  plucked  oats 
enough  to  feed  the  somewhat  jaded  animals,  and 
throwing  out  a  picket  guard  they  threw  themselves 
upon  the  ground  with  their  saddles  for  pillows 
and  were  soon  fast  asleep,  from  which  they  were 
awakened  by  the  shrill  notes  of  the  bugle  at  early 
dawn.  Feeling  considerably  refreshed  by  the  two 
hours  rest  and  sleep,  they  hastily  saddled  their 
horses,  mounted  and  were  soon  on  the  trail  that 
led  through  a  wild  untenanted  part  of  the  country. 
About  ten  o'clock  the  party  reached  Gosnerville, 
where  they  learned  that  the  command  had  pro 
ceeded  in  the  direction  of  Platte  City,  leaving 
orders  for  Lieutenant  Hammond  to  return  with 
his  force  to  Liberty,  which  they  did,  arriving  at 
that  point  about  three  o'clock  the  same  evening  ; 
having  traveled  over  one  hundred  miles  in  a  few 
hours.  Upon  leaving  Liberty,  Colonel  Ford  pro 
ceeded  north  on  the  Plattsburg  road  about  twenty- 
five  miles,  where  a  trail  was  discovered  leading  in 
the  direction  of  Gosnerville,  which  he  immediately 
followed,  and  arrived  at  the  latter  mentioned  place 
about  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  ;  here  the  trail 
was  lost,  and  getting  no  information  as  to  the 
direction  taken  he  pushed  forward  in  a  westerly 
direction  some  three  miles  where  the  command 
was  halted.  The  horses  fed  and  rested  until  dark 
ness  approached,  when  the  .bugle  sounded  boots 


68  HISTORY  OF  THE 

and  saddles,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  Battalion 
was  moving.  Marching  some  four  miles  a  halt 
was  ordered,  and  the  men  lay  down  and  slept 
soundly  in  the  open  air  until  three  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  when  they  were  again  on  the  move,  and 
by  one  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  reached  Camdeii 
Point  without  meeting  the  foe  ;  here  they  changed 
direction  to  the  south  and  marching  some  eight 
miles  then  camped. 

The  next  morning  the  Colonel  was  up  long  be 
fore  day,  and  the  Battalion  was  soon  mounted  and 
moving  on  toward  the  south-west.  After  passing 
over  some  ten  miles  of  ground  without  any  road, 
they  suddenly  came  upon  a  fresh  trail  of  a  party 
of  twenty-five  or  thirty  bushwhackers,  and  im 
mediately  joined  in  the  pursuit,  which  was  kept 
up  until  three  o'clock  that  afternoon,  when  arriv 
ing  at  a  house  owned  by  a  rebel  by  the  name  of 
Woods  they  halted  to  feed  and  make  inquiries  ; 
but,  although  the  trail  had  been  followed  to  the 
door-yard,  the  inmates  could  tell  nothing  in  regard 
to  them  ;  but  a  few  minutes  had  elapsed,  when  a 
man  came  out  of  the  brush  and  entered  our  lines, 
evidently  under  the  impression  that  our  forces  be 
longed  to  rebel  Stone's  party  ;  discovering  his  mis 
take  he  put  spurs  to  his  horse  and  dashed  past  at 
a  gallop  under  a  shower  of  balls,  but  finally  fell 
from  his  horse  pierced  by  a  dozen  bullets.  Mount 
ing  their  horses  our  troops  scoured  the  woods,  and 
discovered  a  camp  within  half  a  mile  that  had  just 
been  deserted,  having  been  alarmed  by  the  firing  ; 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  69 

our  troops  immediately  started  in  pursuit  and  on 
emerging  from  the  timber  discovered  a  party  of 
mounted  men  numbering  twenty  about  one  mile  in 
advance  and  flying  at  the  top  of  their  speed ;  rais 
ing  a  shout  our  boys  dashed  after  them  over  the 
open  prairie  and  were  fast  gaining  ground  when 
the  bushwhackers  again  entered  the  timber  and 
scattering  were  again  lest  to  view  in  the  dense 
underbrush  that  covered  the  ground ;  the  trail 
was  followed  for  eight  miles  through  the  timber 
and  ravines,  when  the  pickets  of  the  bushwhackers' 
camp  were  again  discovered.  Upon  hailing  them 
they  replied  that  they  belonged  to  Stone's  com 
mand,  they  were  fired  upon  by  our  boys,  who 
succeeded  in  killing  one  man  and  wounding 
another,  the  rest  of  the  bandits  made  their  escape. 


f  0  HISTORY  OF  THE 


CHAPTER  VI. 

About  the  nineteenth  of  July,  Major  Smith,  in 
command  of  about  one  hundred  and  forty  men, 
left  Liberty  and  proceeded  to  Richfield,  a  small 
town  south  of  Liberty  and  fourteen  miles  distant, 
situated  on  the  Missouri  River ;  on  going  into  town 
the  advance  guard  discovered  and  fired  upon  a 
party  of  bushwhackers,  some  thirty  strong,  who 
beat  a  hasty  retreat ;  taking  their  trail  the  com 
mand  pursued  them  for  eight  miles  down  the 
river ;  here  Major  Smith  divided  his  forces  ;  about 
fifty  men  under  Captain  Green,  taking  the  road 
back  towards  Richfield  for  the  purpose  of  inter 
cepting  any  of  the  enemy  who  might  have  taken 
the  back  track;  another  party  of  about  forty 
under  his  own  command  pursued  a  north-east 
direction,  while  Captain  Moses,  with  forty-seven 
men  belonging  to  Companies  M  and  C,  pursued 
an  easterly  direction  seven  or  eight  miles  and 
camped.  The  next  morning  his  party  were 
mounted  and  pushing  forward,  about  one  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon,  they  arrived  at  a  little  town  by  the 
name  of  Fredericksburg,  situated  in  Bay  County 
and  some  twenty  miles  distant  from  Liberty; 
upon  nearing  the  town  a  body  of  troops  were  dis 
covered  to  be  approaching  from  an  opposite 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  71 

direction,  at  first  they  were  supposed  to  be  a  por 
tion  of  our  own  forces,  under  Major  Smith ;  but 
that  illusion  was  quickly  dispelled  by  a  volley  of 
shots  coming  from  their  advance ;  not  in  the  least 
disconcerted,  Captain  Moses  instantly  dismounted 
the  first  platoon  and  formed  them  in  line  across 
the  road  in  front  and  returned  a  deadly  fire  on 
the  foe,  which  had  the  effect  to  check  their 
advancing  columns,  although  their  vastly  out 
numbering  rifles  rained  a  perfect  shower  of  leaden 
messengers  of  death  in  the  midst  of  our  little 
band,  who  firmly,  heroically,  stood  their  ground, 
and  returned  shot  for  shot  and  volley  for  volley, 
telling  fearfully  on  the  ranks  of  the  enemy  and 
holding  them  at  bay,  although  more  than  five 
times  their  number,  until  the  horses  that  had  been 
pressed  by  our  party — and  of  which  they  had  a 
large  number — became  frightened  and,  conse 
quently,  unmanageable,  rearing  and  plunging 
until  they  threw  our  little  band  into  confusion, 
which  was  taken  advantage  of  by  Thrailkill, 
leader  of  the  enemy ;  and  throwing  out  his  flank 
ers  on  both  sides  of  the  road,  he  with  the  main 
body  charged  down  the  lane  upon  our  confused 
but  dauntless  heroes,  who  met  the  foe  in  deadly 
combat,  hand-to-hand,  sternly  contesting  the  field, 
some  of  them  mounted  and  some  on  foot ;  the 
terrific  plunging  of  the  horses,  unused  to  the  field 
and  consequent  confusion,  not  allowing  them  an 
opportunity  to  mount  before  the  enemy  were  upon 
upon  them.  For  the  space  of  twenty  minutes— 


f2  HISTORY  OF  THE 

which  seemed  as  so  many  hours — the  fight  raged 
in  all  its  fury,  and  the  ground  was  strewn  with 
the  wounded,  dying  and  dead ;  some  of  our  men, 
who  had  fallen  mortally  wounded,  fighting  while 
the  life-blood  was  spurting  from  their  wounds 
even  to  the  death ;  but  on  they  came,  yelling  like 
so  many  demons,  swarming  from  the  woods. 
Captain  Moses  who  was  in  the  thickest  of 
the  fight,  seeing  the  utter  hopelessness  of  con 
tending  with  such  great  odds,  directed  his  men  to 
save  themselves  and  they  reluctlantly  dispersed 
and  taking  to  the  woods  escaped — after  being 
hotly  pursued  for  over  a  mile — leaving  six  of  their 
number  dead  on  the  field.  Both  the  Captain  and 
his  men  behaved  with  the  greatest  coolness  and 
bravery  ;  the  former  came  of  the  field  with  three 
bullet  marks  on  his  clothes  and  person,  one  ball 
grazing  his  forehead  cutting  the  skin  slightly, 
another  severed  his  sabre-belt  and  a  third  cutting 
his  coat ;  his  horse,  a  noble  animal,  was  pierced 
by  three  balls,  but  carried  him  out  of  all  danger. 
Nearly  every  one  of  the  party  who  escaped  with 
their  lives  bore  some  evidence  of  the  desperate 
contest,  either  upon  his  clothes  or  his  person ; 
several  of  the  horses  were  killed  and  several  were 
wounded  ;  all  the  led  horses  were  lost,  escaping  in 
their  mad  fright  in  every  direction,  fleeing  for  their 
lives  in  wild  consternation. 

After  the  fight  was  over  our  men,  who  had  con 
siderable  experience  in  hunting  bushwhackers, 
immediately  scattered  through  the  woods  each 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  73 

one  taking  his  own  course,  thereby  eluding  the 
pursuit  of  the  exasperated  and  blood-thirsty 
enemy,  and  each  making  his  way  into  camp  as 
soon  as  time  and  circumstance  would  permit ;  in 
so  doing  many  dangers  were  to  be  avoided  and 
many  narrow  escapes  had  to  be  run.  The  first 
messengers  from  the  scene  of  action  arrived  at 
Liberty  at  about  half -past  four  o'clock  in  the  after 
noon,  and  about  one  hundred  men,  under  com 
mand  of  Lieutenant  Gooding,  were  ordered  to  the 
rescue. 

Having  saddled  and  mounted,  the  command 
"forward"  was  given,  and  letting  their  horses 
out  into  a  long  gallop  they  moved  forward  at  a 
rapid  gait  toward  the  scene  of  the  contest,  each 
man  eager  to  meet  and  chastize  severely  the  cow 
ardly  fiends  who  would  risk  a  fight  only  when 
conscious  of  an  advantage  in  their  favor  ;  just  as 
night  was  setting  in,  and  when  within  about  six 
miles  of  the  battle-ground,  they  were  met  by  two 
more  of  our  men,  who  had  been  in  the  brush  dur 
ing  the  latter  part  of  the  day  and  only  ventured 
forth  when  it  became  dark  enough  to  cover  their 
movement  from  any  of  the  enemy  who  might  be 
watching  for  their  appearance ;  the  men  gave  a 
detailed  account  of  the  fight  and  stated,  what 
proved  afterward  to  be  a  fact,  that  the  enemy 
were  near  three  hundred  strong,  and  were  doubt 
less  on  the  alert  for  re-inforcements  that  would  in 
all  probability  be  sent  by  our  commander. 

Taking  into  consideration  the  darkness  of  the 


74  HISTORY  OF  THE 

night,  the  dense  forest  and  broken  country  through 
which  they  would  be  obliged  to  pass,  and  the  ad 
vantage  the  enemy  would  possess  in  numbers  and 
position,  the  commanding  officer  decided  to  halt 
the  command  and  send  a  messenger  back  for  ad 
ditional  re-inforcements.  The  dispatch  bearer  ar 
rived  safe  at  Liberty,  and  Major  Pritchard  with 
one  hundred  and  fifty  mounted  men  joined  the 
command  at  about  half -past  one  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  when  the  entire  body,  near  two  hundred 
and  fifty  strong,  under  command  of  the  Major, 
moved  forward  to  the  scene  of  the  previous  day's 
fight,  having  taken  the  precaution  to  throw  out 
flankers,  for  a  considerable  distance  on  each  side 
of  the  road.  At  about  four  o'clock  the  battle 
ground  was  reached,  and  from  citizens  who  lived 
near  it  was  ascertained  that  the  enemy  had  moved 
forward  after  stripping  the  dead  of  their  arms, 
money  and  clothing — whom  the  citizens  had  col 
lected  and  deposited  in  a  church  near  by,  prepar 
atory  to  interment — they  also  stated  the  number 
of  the  enemy  killed  in  the  engagement  to  be  six 
teen,  having  helped  to  bury  them  ;  then  umber  of 
wounded  was  not  ascertained.  The  command 
moved  forward  on  the  road  until  daylight  when 
a  halt  was  ordered  and  the  somewhat  jaded  horses 
were  fed  from  an  adjacent  corn-field,  the  saddles 
remaining  upon  them  and  the  bits  in  their  mouths. 
Having  rested  a  short  time,  the  command  was 
mounted  and  moving  forward  over  the  road  for 
some  three  miles ;  the  trail  of  the  enemy  was  dis- 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  75 

covered  to  diverge  to  the  right  and,  pursuing  the 
direction  taken,  their  camp-ground  was  found  on 
a  river  bottom,  but  had  been  deserted  by  them 
about  an  hour  previous.  Again  taking  up  the  trail 
our  troops  wound  their  way  through  the  forest 
and  thick  underbrush  and  emerged  into  the  road, 
having  lost  considerable  ground  in  following 
the  trail ;  moving  on  to  within  three  miles  of 
Kichmond,  the  country  seat  of  Ray  County,  the 
trail  again  diverged  to  the  left,  but  not  wishing  to 
lose  any  more  time,  the  Major  and  command 
dashed  straight  forward  into  the  place  and  waited 
the  coming  up  of  the  enemy,  who  was  supposed 
to  have  taken  a  circuitous  route  for  the  pur 
pose  of  throwing  their  pursuers  off  the  scent ; 
in  the  meantime,  a  scout  having  been  sent  out  to 
reconnoitre,  returned  and  reported  the  enemy 
having  pushed  on  in  an  easterly  direction.  Tak 
ing  up  a  line  of  march  our  troops  once  more  struck 
their  trail  about  four  miles  distant,  about  an  hour 
and  a  half  after  they  had  passed. 

In  pursuing  the  course  taken  by  the  enemy,  it 
was  necessary  to  exercise  caution  in  order  to 
avoid  being  ambushed  by  the  foe,  which  might 
prove  fatal  to  our  party  ;  and  in  order  to  guard 
against  this,  Major  Pritchard  threw  out  flanks  for 
a  considerable  distance  on  each  side  of  the  road, 
who  were  compelled  to  pick  their  way  through  the 
dense  underbrush,  through  fences  and  over  logs, 
ravines  and  hillocks,  necessarily  causing  tardy 
movements  on  the  part  of  our  forces.  Pursuing 


T6  HISTORY  OF  THE 

the  trail  for  about  five  miles  farther  they  came  to 
the  ground  where  the  enemy  had  camped  and  fed 
their  horses  ;  but  had  moved  on  sometime  before 
our  troops  came  up,  according  to  information  ob 
tained  from  citizens  on  the  road,  who  seemed  anx 
ious  to  impart  anything  they  knew  that  would  be 
of  service  to  our  troops  in  their  endeavors  to  over 
haul  the  enemy.  When  within  three  miles  of  the 
town  of  Knoxville,  the  dead  body  of  a  citizen  was 
found  lying  by  the  road-side — killed  by  the  Ban 
ditti — and  on  pushing  on  two  miles  farther  a  large 
amount  of  destroyed  mail  matter  was  found  on 
the  road,  where  the  coach  had  been  plundered 
and  the  mail  bags  rifled  and  their  contents  strewn 
over  the  ground;  being  within  one  mile  of  the 
town  the  Major  ordered  a  charge  and  the  battalion 
moved  forward  at  a  gallop,  with  drawn  revolvers. 
Upon  reaching  Knoxville  the  birds  had  flown, 
much  to  the  chagrin  and  disappointment  of  our 
troops,  who  were  anxious  to  give  them  a  severe 
chastisement  for  their  many  evil  deeds  committed 
through  that  country.  Moving  in  advance  of  our 
column  the  enemy  had  the  advantage  of  securing 
all  the  best  horses  in  the  country,  such  an  oppor 
tunity  they  never  failed  to  improve,  and  by  so  do 
ing  could  bid  defiance  to  the  pursuers,  whose 
horses  had  well  nigh  given  out — having  travelled 
over  one  hundred  miles  with  very  little  rest.  Tak 
ing  into  consideration  the  wearied  men  and  the 
jaded  condition  of  the  horses,  the  Major  deemed 
it  advisable  to  give  over  the  pursuit  and  return  to 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  77 

camp,  which  after  a  brief  halt  was  carried  into 
effect — the  command  reaching  Liberty  that  night. 
In  service  of  this  nature,  it  was  impossible  to  have 
wagons  at  all  times  for  the  transportation  of  sub 
sistence  and  the  troops  were  obliged — along  with 
what  provisions  they  carried  in  their  haversacks — 
to  subsist  upon  the  farmers  throughout  the  coun 
try,  who  had  abundance  of  everything  required ; 
nor  were  our  men  slow  to  help  themselves  to  what 
they  needed  to  satisfy  their  appetites  while  passing 
through  a  country  whose  inhabitants  were  so 
notoriously  rebel  in  their  sentiments  and  actions. 
Up  to  the  time  of  the  invasion  by  our  troops,  they 
had  never  experienced  the  evil  effects  of  war 
brought  to  their  own  doors,  and  while  the  counties 
of  Jackson,  Cass,  Bates  and  others  across  the  river, 
suffered  all  the  terrible  consequences  of  being 
overrun  and  devastated  by  the  contending  forces, 
they  had  reaped  all  the  benefits  of  the  scarcity  of 
provisions  in  the  market  and  consequent  rise  in 
prices;  at  the  same  time  allowed  the  secession 
element  to  flourish  unmolested  in  their  midst, 
until  it  manifested  itself  in  such  gigantic  magni 
tude  that  it  became  intolerable  and  had  to  be 
crushed.  And  now,  having  the  war  brought  to 
their  own  doors  and  realizing  some  of  its  blight 
ing  effects,  they  were  obliged  to  take  measures 
for  their  own  peace  and  safety.  Meetings  were 
held  and  resolutions  passed,  and  bodies  of  men 
were  organized  to  keep  down  bushwhacking  and 
preserve  order  throughout  the  country,  preferring 


78  HISTORY  OF  THE 

to  take  the  matter  into  their  own  hands  rather 
than  have  their  country  laid  waste  by  the  soldiers, 
who  had  but  little  reason  to  show  leniency  to  the 
rebels  against  the  United  States  Government  and 
still  less  for  the  bushwhackers. 

Matters  having  become  quiet  and  somewhat  set 
tled  in  that  part  of  the  country,  Colonel  Ford  and 
command  returned  to  Kansas  City,  after  assuring 
the  people  of  Clay  County  that  very  severe  meas 
ures  might  be  expected  should  he  be  obliged  to 
pay  them  another  visit. 

About  the  twentieth  of  September,  General 
Sterling  Price,  with  a  cavalry  force  some  twenty 
thousand  strong,  invaded  Missouri  from  the  south, 
meeting  with  but  little  opposition  until  reaching 
Pilot  Knob — a  small  town  of  about  four  hundred 
inhabitants,  situated  in  Iron  county  at  the  termi 
nus  of  the  Iron  Mountain  Kailroad  and  eighty- 
six  miles  south  from  St.  Louis — where  he  arrived 
on  the  twenty-seventh  day  of  September,  and  im 
mediately  commenced  an  attack  on  the  Fort  at 
that  place,  garrisoned  by  about  eight  hundred 
men  under  command  of  General  Ewing.  The  at 
tack  began  at  six  o'clock  in  the  morning  and  last 
ed  until  dark,  our  gallant  little  band  foiling  the 
repeated  attempts  of  the  enemy  to  take  the  place, 
repulsing  their  vastly  outnumbering  forces  with 
tremendous  slaughter.  The  Fort  was  septangular 
in  form,  with  earthworks  thrown  up  to  the  height 
of  nine  feet,  and  ten  feet  in  thickness,  and  sur 
rounded  by  a  deep  ditch  with  almost  perpendicu- 


SECOND   COLORADOS.  79 

lar  sides,  from  which  the  earth  was  taken  to  raise 
the  embankments.  It  was  compactly  built  and 
mounted  seven  guns  in  all,  four  thirty -two  pound 
siege-guns  and  three  twenty-four  pound  field- 
pieces,  also,  two  mortars  of  six-inch  calibre  for 
throwing  bombs.  The  magazine  was  located  un 
derground  in  the  centre  of  the  Fort,  and  one 
twenty -four  pound  gun  mounted  upon  its  roof, 
which  was  of  solid  earth  four  feet  in  depth,  to 
protect  the  ammunition  from  the  effect  of  the  ene 
my's  fire.  On  the  south-west  side  of  the  Fort  was 
the  passage-way  leading  outside  into  the  rifle-pits, 
that  were  dug  for  the  protection  of  our  marksmen 
while  disputing  the  passage  of  the  enemy  to  the 
right  and  rear  of  the  defenses.  The  enemy  made 
several  successive  charges,  but  were  repulsed  each 
time  leaving  many  of  their  number  dead  on  the 
field. 

Our  loss  during  the  day  was  ten  killed  and  twenty- 
one  wounded.  The  entire  loss  of  the  rebels  reached 
near  fifteen  hundred  !  Nearly  twice  the  number  of 
the  garrison !  This  terrible  slaughter  was  accounted 
for  by  the  fact  that  the  guns  were  so  arranged 
that  their  fire  could  be  concentrated  on  any  given 
point,  and  as  the  columns  advanced  they  were 
greeted  with  a  most  deadly  reception,  in  the  shape 
of  shot,  shell,  grape  and  canister,  that  Utterly 
mowed  the  enemy  down  and  caused  utter'  con 
fusion  in  their  broken  ranks.  At  dark  Price  drew 
off  his  forces  to  Arcadia,  a  small  town  two  miles 
and  a  half  below,  intending  to  make  a  combined 


80  HISTORY  OF  THE 

effort  to  take  the  Fort  by  assault  the  next  day. 
General  Ewing  not  having  received  any  re-inf  orce- 
ments,  and  knowing  it  would  be  impossible  to 
hold  out  for  a  much  longer  period  against  such 
fearful  odds,  wisely  removed  our  dead  and 
wounded  and  such  property  as  could  not  be 
abandoned,  and  evacuating  at  half -past  two 
o'clock  in  the  night,  blew  up  the  fortifications 
and  retired,  and  the  place  was  occupied  by  the 
rebel  forces  next  day.  Exasperated  at  our  stub 
born  and  successful  resistance  and  their  severe  loss 
in  the  action,  the  rebels  wreaked  their  vengeance 
upon  the  Union  citizens  living  in  the  vicinity,  by 
entering  their  houses  and  appropriating  such  of 
the  articles  contained  in  them,  that  they  coveted, 
to  their  own  use  and  destroying  the  remainder, 
and  in  some  instances  burning  the  houses  to  the 
ground. 

In  the  meantime  General  Ewing  retreated  in 
good  order  in  a  north-westerly  direction,  leaving 
the  enemy  in  possession  of  the  Iron  Mountain 
Kailroad  running  to  St.  Louis,  care  having  been 
taken  to  remove  the  rolling  stock,  thus  rendering 
it  useless  to  the  enemy  as  a  means  of  conveyance 
to  the  city  or  intermediate  points.  The  object  of 
the  invasion  of  the  rebel  army  was  to  ascertain 
the  number  and  to  collect  together  all  who  were 
willing  to  fight  under  the  rebel  colors,  and  if 
possible  hold  the  State  as  belonging  to  the  rebel 
Confederacy.  From  numerous  letters  written  in 
different  parts  of  the  State,  the  commander  of  the 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  81 

rebel  force  had  assurances  that  a  large  number  of 
rebel  residents  were  only  awaiting  an  opportunity 
to  fall  into  line  and  march  to  the  music  of  se 
cession.  These  representations,  together  with  a 
strong  desire  to  regain  the  foothold  he  once  had  in 
the  State,  and  the  faint  hope  of  bring  Missouri 
again  under  the  rule  of  the  so-called  "  Southern 
Confederacy,"  also  for  the  purpose  of  dividing  the 
attention  of  our  Government,  thereby  weakening 
its  attempts  to  put  down  the  rebellion,  were  the 
inducements  that  offered  themselves  to  the  con 
sideration  of  General  Price ;  and  finally  resulted 
in  the  "  great  raid"  during  the  months  of  October 
and  November.  The  results  of  which  proved  such 
a  failure  to  the  designs  of  the  rebel  leader. 
While  Price  with  his  augmenting  force,  was 
pushing  his  way  through  the  State,  in  a  north 
west  direction,  all  sorts  of  vague  rumors  in  regard 
to  the  rebel  General,  his  designs  and  the  numeri 
cal  strength  of  his  forces,  were  flying  over  the 
country,  creating  considerable  excitement  and 
consternation  among  the  Union  citizens  residing 
on  the  line  of  his  march ;  and  rejoicing  among 
the  rebel  portion  of  residents  throughout  the 
State. 

Upon  receipt  of  intelligence  of  the  approach  of 
the  rebel  army,  General  Curtis,  then  commanding 
the  department  of  Kansas,  immediately  forward 
ed  dispatches  to  the  Department  at  Washington, 
stating  the  necessity  of  concentrating  a  strong 
force  on  the  border,  urging  immediate  action  in 


82  HISTORY  OF  THE 

regard  to  the  matter,  and  asking  to  be  supplied 
with  a  sufficient  body  of  troops  to  repel  the  invad 
ing  force  and  capture  or  drive  the  enemy  from 
the  country,  and  avert  the  impending  danger  of 
its  being  overrun  and  devastated  by  a  relentless 
foe,  who  would  have  gloried  in  the  act  of  carrying 
fire  and  sword  into  the  heart  of  loyal  Kansas,  and 
desecrating  the  homes  and  firesides  of  the  freemen 
who  had  battled  so  long  and  successfully  against 
the  foes  of  liberty  and  human  freedom.  The  Sec 
ond  Colorado  had  just  been  ordered  to  report  to 
the  Kansas  Department  for  active  service  against 
the  Indians,  who  had  assumed  a  hostile  attitude 
toward  the  whites,  capturing  trains,  running  stock 
and  killing  any  small  parties  of  travelers  that 
were  so  unfortunate  as  to  fall  into  their  merciless 
clutches.  A  portion  of  the  regiment  was  at  Leav- 
enworth  when,  on  the  eighteenth  of  October,  the 
proclamation  of  martial  law  was  prepared.  The 
Second  immediately  took  the  field  and  for  several 
days  before  General  Blunt  moved  toward  Lexing 
ton,  Colonel  Ford,  from  Independence,  was  scour 
ing  the  country  thoroughly.  The  much  lamented 
Major  Smith  entered  and  left  Lexington  the  day 
before  General  Blunt's  reconnoitering  column. 
On  the  twelfth  of  October,  while  headquarters  of 
the  regiment  was  at  Kansas  City,  the  excitement 
of  that  place  had  become  so  great  in  regard  to  the 
coming  of  the  rebel  Price  and  the  prospect  of  his 
paying  the  city  a  visit,  that  Major  Pritchard,  who 
was  at  that  time  in  command  of  the  post,  ordered 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  /  83 

all  business  houses  to  be  closed  that  afternoon  at 
four  o'clock,  and  the  citizens  to  turn  out  to  drill 
and  prepare  to  meet  the  enemy.  A  survey  was 
made  and  rifle-pits  dug,  extending  from  the  bank 
of  the  river  on  the  east  of  the  city  to  the  south 
west  portion,  protecting  the  approaches  from  In 
dependence  on  the  east  and  Westport  on  the 
south.  To  accomplish  this,  every  man  who  was 
able  to  wield  a  pick  or  shovel  and  who  was  not 
already  on  duty  drilling  was  ordered  to  the  en 
trenchments.  Determined  to  enforce  the  order 
without  fear  or  favor,  Major  Pritchard  placed  the 
entire  company  of  Squadron  H  on  provost  duty, 
with  instructions  to  find  and  convey  to  the  trench 
es  all  idlers  and  shirkers  from  duty.  As  a  matter 
of  course  the  loyal  portion  of  the  citizens  needed 
no  urging,  the  necessity  of  the  occasion  being  suf 
ficient  incentive  for  them  ;  but  it  was  gratifying 
to  the  soldiers  to  get  after  the  " sympathizers" 
and  stay-at-home  rebs  of  whom  the  city  and  vi 
cinity  possessed  a  large  number,  who  were  too 
cowardly  to  openly  espouse  the  cause  of  the  rebels, 
but  chose  rather  to  remain  at  home  out  of  the 
way  of  bullets  and  gunpowder  and  discourage 
Union  sentiments  and  feelings  by  their  contami 
nating  influence  and  intolerable  hypocrisy ;  of 
which  some  of  their  leading  characters  possessed 
this  contemptible  quality  to  a  most  astonishing 
and  alarming  extent. 

Some  characters  in  particular,  who  wore  very 
meek  countenances  and  had  tongues  that  for  oily 


84  HISTORY  OF  THE 

smoothness,  when  in  company  with  Union  men, 
might  be  likened  unto  never-failing  fountains  of 
kerosene,  and  yet  were  known  to  be  deep-dyed 
rebels  at  heart,  made  themselves  particularly  ob 
noxious.  These  characters  were  well  known  to 
the  soldiery  and  received  their  particular  attention. 
As  the  rebel  army  continued  its  march  through 
the  State  rumors  of  every  description  were  circu 
lated,  causing  great  excitement  and  an  almost 
total  suspension  of  business. 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  85 


CHAPTER  VII. 

The  Union  citizens  of  Independence,  a  town  of 
about  one  thousand  five  hundred  inhabitants, 
situated  nine  miles  east  of  Kansas  City,  deeming 
it  unsafe  to  remain  longer  at  that  place,  evacu 
ated  it  on  the  evening  of  the  twelfth  of  October, 
and  reached  Kansas  City  that  night. 

On  the  morning  of  the  thirteenth,  the  railroad 
bridge  across  the  Big  Blue,  between  Independence 
and  the  latter  mentioned  place,  was  burned  by  a 
band  of  bushwhackers,  and  Captain  Moses  of  the 
Second  Colorado,  in  command  of  companies  M  and 
C,  anticipating  a  design  on  the  part  of  the  enemy 
to  cut  off  his  retreat,  abandoned  Independence 
where  he  had  been  stationed  and  fell  back  to 
Kansas  City.  The  afternoon  of  the  same  day, 
information  reached  us  that  Independence  had 
been  taken  possession  of  by  the  bushwhackers  and 
was  being  pillaged  by  the  relentless  vagabonds. 

Hastily  collecting  together  about  one  hundred 
and  twenty-five  men,  Captain  Moses  proceeded  to 
that  place  by  the  river-road ;  when  within  about 
three  miles  of  the  place,  the  command  was  met 
by  a  man  who  informed  Captain  Moses  that  the 
town  was  full  of  rebels — the  advance  of  Price's 
army.  Drawing  his  men  up  in  line  and  giving 


86  HISTORY  OF  THE 

them  instructions  in  case  of  an  engagement  with 
the  enemy,  the  Captain  ordered  the  column  for 
ward,  keeping  clear  of  the  road  to  avoid  being 
ambushed.  Upon  arriving  within  one  mile  a 
party  was  sent  out  to  reconnoitre  while  the  com 
mand  quietly  dismounted  to  rest  a  few  moments ; 
failing  to  get  satisfactory  information  the  com 
mand  was  mounted  and  moved  silently  forward 
until  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  when  a  charge 
was  ordered  and  the  column  went  sweeping  for 
ward  like  the  resistless  hurricane,  each  one  firmly 
impressed  with  the  conviction  that  the  enemy 
were  posted  in  strong  force  in  the  town.  Charg 
ing  down  the  hard,  stony  street  at  the  top  of 
their  speed,  the  clatter  of  the  horses  hoofs  rang 
loud  and  clear,  and  as  the  column  drew  up  on  the 
public  square,  alarmed  citizens  might  be  seen 
rushing  into  their  houses  terrified  at  the  sudden 
appearance  of  our  troops ;  but,  they  arrived  too 
late ;  some  twenty-five  bushwhackers  had  visited 
the  town  and  appropriating  what  articles  they 
wanted  immediately  decamped  with  their  booty, 
having  been  gone  about  one  hour  previous  to  the 
arrival  of  our  troops.  Remaining  in  town  until 
night  set  in,  Captain  Moses  and  command  started 
for  Hickman's  Mills ;  when  within  about  five 
miles  of  that  place,  they  were  met  by  Major 
Smith,  with  two  hundred  men  ;  after  a  few  min 
utes  consultation  the  entire  force  under  command 
of  the  Major  returned  to  Independence. 

On  arriving  within  one  mile  of  the  town,  the  rear 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  87 

of  the  command,  consisting  of  about  two  hundred 
men,  took  the  road  to  the  right  to  come  in  on 
another  street,  in  order  to  intercept  the  flight  of 
any  bushwhackers  who  might  have  entered  the 
town  and  would  endeavor  to  make  their  escape,  of 
which  movement  the  advance  being  some  dis 
tance  ahead  were  entirely  ignorant,  and  which 
might  have  proved  disastrous  in  its  consequences 
had  less  discretion  been  used  afterwards.  Our 
advance  had  just  entered  the  street  running  north 
and  on  the  west  side  of  the  public  square  when 
by  the  dim  starlight  two  mounted  men  were  seen 
standing  in  the  street  near  the  square,  apparently 
watching  our  movements.  Upon  our  approach 
to  within  three  hundred  yards  they  suddenly  dis 
appeared  down  the  street  running  west,  as  if  con 
scious  of  the  near  advance  of  a  superior  force. 
This  suspicious  movement  and  the  threat  that  the 
bushwhackers  gave  utterance  to  that  day — that 
they  would  return  to  town  that  night,  strongly  re 
inforced,  for  the  purpose  of  burning  and  sacking 
the  place — had  the  effect  to  assure  them  that  they 
had  at  last  ' i  treed  "  their  game,  and  the  exultant 
ejaculation,  "Boys,  we've  got  them  now,"  quick 
ly  passed  from  front  to  rear  as  the  command 
* '  Forward  "  was  given  and  the  battalion  went 
thundering  over  the  stone-paved  street,  while  a 
squad  dashed  off  to  the  right  to  come  in  on  the 
street  running  parallel  on  the  east  side  of  the 
square,  for  the  purpose  of  intercepting  the  enemy 
in  their  flight  should  they  conclude  that  discretion 


88  HISTORY  OF  THE 

were  the  better  part  of  valor  and  try  to  make 
their  escape.  Coming  up  at  a  lively  gallop  a  large 
number  of  men  with  horses  were  seen  gathered 
around  the  square,  as  though  they  felt  themselves 
masters  of  the  town  and  dreaded  not  the  approach 
of  the  troops.  Dashing  up  to  within  twenty-five 
yards,  the  darkness  of  the  night  rendering  it  im 
possible  to  distinguish  anything  more  than  the 
outlines  of  the  figures  moving  about,  the  com 
mand  was  halted,  and  half  a  dozen  excited  voices 
from  the  ranks  of  the  Colorados  simultaneously 
rang  out  with,  "Who  are  you?"  "Who  are 
you  ? "  came  back  the  reply,  proud  and  defiant. 
"Come  out  and  make  yourselves  known,"  was 
the  answer,  as  the  click  of  a  hundred  revolvers 
was  heard  on  the  still  night  air.  Each  one  was 
almost  fully  assured  the  enemy  was  there  in 
strong  force  and  momentarily  expected  to  receive 
a  deadly  volley  from  their  ranks.  At  this  junc 
ture,  while  the  excitement  was  at  its  height,  one 
of  their  party  advanced  and  was  met  by  one  of 
the  other,  when  after  a  brief  consultation  it  was 
ascertained  that  they  were  a  portion  of  their  own 
troops,  who  had  taken  the  road  to  the  right  and 
had  arrived  in  advance  of  the  battalion  under 
Captain  Moses,  So  fully  were  the  troops  impressed 
with  the  belief  that  they  were  in  the  presence  of 
an  enemy  that  some  seconds  passed  before  they 
could  realize  the  true  state  of  the  case  ;  and  when 
fully  satisfied  in  regard  to  the  matter,  a  thrill 
of  horror  chilled  the  blood  of  the  entire  com- 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  89 

mand  to  think  how  nearly  fatal  had  been  their 
mistake. 

Accustomed  to  guerrilla  warfare,  and  realizing 
by  experience  the  fact  that  they  often  opened  fire 
upon  our  own  forces  without  extended  explana 
tions,  and  also  aware  of  the  ruse  frequently  prac 
ticed  by  them,  that  of  claiming  to  be  Colorado 
troops,  it  was  a  matter  of  astonishment  to  the 
entire  command  that  they  did  not  open  fire  upon 
hearing  the  sullen  and  unsatisfactory  reply  of  the 
other  party. 

It  really  seemed  that  nothing  short  of  the  hand 
of  Providence  intervened  to  prevent  the  flow  of 
blood !  The  cold-blooded  and  inhuman  murder  of 
some  of  our  men  by  the  bushwhackers,  and  the 
consequent  rule  of  no  "  quarter,"  adopted  by  our 
troops  when  contending  with  them,  had  begotten 
a  feeling  of  animosity  between  the  two  forces 
that  speedily  ripened  into  a  deadly  feud ;  and 
when  a  struggle  between  the  two  belligerent  par 
ties  did  ensue  it  was  for  life  or  death  ! 

In  the  present  instance,  had  one  shot  been  fired 
a  scene,  with  its  terrible  results,  would  have 
ensued  that  would  beggar  all  attempts  at  descrip 
tion.  Amid  the  clash  and  clanging  of  sabres  and 
the  incessant  roar  of  fire-arms,  mingled  with  the 
shouts  of  the  combatants,  each  fully  assured  that 
they  were  fully  engaged  with  their  mortal  enemy, 
it  would  have  been  utterly  impossible,  in  the 
darkness  of  the  night  to  have  discovered  the  terri 
ble  error,  until  too  late  to  save  the  lives  of  a  large 


90  HISTORY  OF  THE 

number  of  our  brave  boys,  whose  mettle  had  been 
tried  and  whose  courage  was  unquestioned.  But 
fortunately  for  the  command  the  threatened  dan 
ger  was  averted,  and,  it  being  after  midnight,  they 
turned  into  quarters,  after  having  a  strong  picket 
guard  placed  upon  all  the  roads  leading  to  the 
town,  with  strict  orders  to  keep  a  vigilant  watch 
for  the  enemy,  whose  appearance  was  hourly 
expected.  The  next  morning  at  an  early  hour 
the  assembly  was  blown,  and  in  a  few  minutes 
the  command  was  mounted  and  moved  forward 
on  the  road  leading  to  Lexington  for  the  purpose 
of  reconnoitering.  Passing  over  some  twenty 
miles  of  the  road  and  discovering  no  evidence  of 
the  proximity  of  the  foe,  Major  Smith  left  the 
road,  and  after  proceeding  in  a  northerly  direction 
four  or  five  miles  the  command  was  halted,  and 
the  horses  were  fed  from  an  adjacent  corn-field. 
After  resting  a  few  minutes  the  troops  moved  on 
in  the  direction  of  the  Sni  Hills ;  a  rough,  rocky, 
broken  part  of  the  country,  densely  covered  with 
brush  and  noted  for  being  a  rendezvous  for  the 
bushwhackers,  who,  when  they  had  once  succeeded 
in  escaping  into  this  region,  it  was  a  dangerous 
and  generally  unwarrantable  experiment  for  our 
troops  to  endeavor  to  ferret  them  out  of  their 
stronghold. 

Bearing  to  the  right  and  striking  the  Little  Blue 
at  the  Blue  Mills,  our  force  then  proceeded  in  a 
south-west  direction,  and  leaving  Independence  to 
the  right  took  a  circuitous  route  for  Hickman's 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  01 

Mill,  a  small  place  fifteen  miles  south  of  Kansas 
City. 

Night  had  now-  set  in,  and  the  clouded  sky 
betokening  a  storm  soon  made  the  way  very 
dark,  augmented  by  the  heavy  timber  and  dense 
underbrush  through  which  they  passed ;  over 
rocky  cliffs  and  deep  ravines,  frequently  obliged 
to  proceed  in  single  file  for  miles  the  path  not 
being  wide  enough  to  admit  more  than  one  pass 
ing  at  a  time.  It  was  of  course  an  unpleasant 
ride  and  necessarily  very  slow  and  tedious,  and 
notwithstanding  the  way  was  led  by  a  guide  who 
was  familiar  with  the  country  through  which  they 
passed  on  more  than  one  occasion  they  were 
obliged  to  halt  and  retrace  their  steps  for  a  con 
siderable  distance.  It  was  near  midnight  when 
the  command  reached  Hickman's  Mill  and  went 
into  camp  until  morning,  when  they  retraced  their 
course  to  Independence  to  join  Colonel  Ford,  who 
had  proceeded  to  that  place  the  evening  previous. 
Our  troops  had  a  great  deal  of  amusement  very 
often  at  the  expense  of  the  bushwhackers ; 
although,  it  was  at  the  same  time  very  risky  and 
dangerous ;  they  would  dress  up  in  butternut  and 
play  bushwhacker  themselves,  and  thus  find  out 
their  camps  and  places  of  resort  and  other 
secrets.  Among  the  number  of  schemes  about 
the  most  laughable  was  the  following :  a  squadron 
composed  of  Companies  F  and  E  had  cleared  out 
at  Camden  Point  about  one  hundred  and  sixty 
of  Thornton's  guerrillas;  the  next  morning 


92  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Captain  Bill  Green,  dressed  up  in  the  copper- 
colored  garb  and  riding  a  mile  or  two  in  advance 
of  the  command,  made  a  grand  rush  up  to  the 
house  of  a  notorious  secesh,  who  had  the  evening 
before  shown  them  a  stock  of  certificates  of  loyalty 
thus  hoping  to  deceive  them ;  but  Captain  Green 
was  not  to  be  duped,  he  informed  the  old  gent 
that  the  Federals  were  close  by  and  his  horse  was 
played.  Thereupon  the  old  man  bustled  round 
gave  the  Captain  a  fine  horse  from  the  stable 
worth  three  hundred  dollars  and  bade  him  "God 
speed  "  to  Thornton's  camp,  telling  him  where  it 
was.  But  in  a  few  minutes  the  old  man  found 
out  his  mistake,  when  he  saw  the  command  ride 
up  with  Colonel  Ford  at  its  head  and  Captain 
Green  beside  him  on  his  fine  black  charger,  he 
did  not  show  his  certificates  this  time,  but  he  did 
contribute  three  more  fine  horses  to  Uncle  Sam, 
which  he  probably  got  paid  for  after  proving  his 
loyalty.  On  the  fifteenth  of  October,  General 
Curtis  passed  through  Kansas  City,  to  Indepen 
dence,  and  the  next  day  proceeded  to  Hickman's 
Mill,  where  troops  were  concentrating,  prepara 
tory  to  the  reception  of  Price's  forces.  Major 
Smith,  with  a  portion  of  the  Second  Colorado, 
proceeded  to  Lexington,  a  distance  of  forty  miles, 
where  he  arrived  just  after  the  town  had  been 
vacated  by  a  band  of  bushwhackers,  who  had 
charged  into  the  town  killing  some  of  the  citizens 
and  firing  into  a  boat  that  was  passing  up  the 
river  ;  having  no  other  effect  than  the  piercing  of 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  93 

her    sides  and    pilot-house    with    balls,   without 
injury  to  any  of  her  passengers. 

The  most  extravagant  evidences  of  joy  were 
manifested  by  the  Union  citizens  of  the  place  on 
the  arrival  of  our  troops.  The  bandits  had  been 
very  abusive  in  their  conduct  while  there,  helping 
themselves  to  whatever  they  wanted,  loudly  de 
nouncing  Unionists,  and  threatening  to  burn  the 
town  ;  and  their  departure  and  the  arrival  of  our 
troops  caused  general  rejoicing ;  and  every  one 
was  eager  to  attend  to  the  wants  of  our  men, 
bringing  water  and  eatables,  to  satisfy  their  thirst 
and  hunger.  After  scouring  the  country  thorough 
ly  and  gaining  no  definite  information  concerning 
the  movement  of  the  rebel  army,  the  Major  and 
command  returned  to  Independence.  On  the 
same  day  General  Curtis  received  official  informa 
tion  of  the  capture  by  the  rebels  of  Sedalia  and 
Dresden,  towns  situated  on  the  Pacific  Kailroad, 
and  about  one  hundred  miles  east  of  Kansas  City, 
and  garrisoned  by  a  small  force  ;  also,  that  Price's 
entire  force,  now  swelled  to  twenty-eight  thousand 
strong  was  steadily  marching  in  the  direction  of 
Kansas  City.  On  the  twenty-seventh,  a  recon- 
noitering  column  consisting  of  about  eleven  hun 
dred  cavalry  under  General  Blunt,  left  Hickman's 
Mill  and  proceeded  on  the  road  to  Lexington, 
with  the  determination  of  striking  the  enemy  be 
fore  returning  if  to  be  found  in  that  part  of  the 
country.  Having  reached  and  passed  through 
Lexington,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  nineteenth, 


94  HISTORY  OF  THE 

General  Blunt' s  advance  and  Price's  vanguard  met 
about  ten  miles  south-west  of  that  place,  and  a 
skirmish  ensued,  during  which  the  enemy  endeav 
ored  to  surround  Blunt' s  command,  by  throwing 
forward  two  columns,  one  on  the  right  and  the 
other  on  the  left,  while  his  centre  engaged  our 
forces,  to  cover  the  movements  of  his  flanking 
columns. 

General  Blunt  was  on  the  alert  and  discovered 
the  movement  in  time  to  thwart  the  design  of  the 
enemy  and  ordered  our  troops  to  fall  back,  which 
they  did  in  time  to  cut  their  way  out  with  the  as 
sistance  of  four  small  howitzers,  commanded  by 
Colonel  Moonlight,  sustaining  little  or  no  loss  on 
our  part.  The  guns  were  planted  in  a  command 
ing  position  and  their  fire  directed  by  Colonel 
Moonlight  in  person,  and  the  grape  and  canister 
was  poured  into  the  enemy's  flanks  on  the  right 
and  left  having  the  effect  to  check  their  advance 
until  our  forces  were  again  formed  into  line. 

General  Blunt  being  satisfied  that  the  enemy 
was  there  in  strong  force  gradually  fell  back,  with 
two  companies  of  the  Eleventh  and  one  of  the 
Fifteenth  Kansas  Cavalry  and  the  artillery  under 
command  of  Moonlight  to  protect  their  rear  and 
cover  their  retreat.  In  this  manner  our  troops 
fell  slowly  back,  sharply  contesting  the  confident 
advances  of  the  enemy,  for  about  ten  miles  dis 
tance  west  of  Lexington  ;  when  night  setting  in 
the  enemy  checked  up,  but  a  constant  skirmish 
firing  was  kept  up  during  the  entire  night  and  the 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  95 

next  day,  until  our  forces  were  within  ten  miles  of 
the  Little  Blue,  when  the  rebel  army  halted; 
while  our  forces  retreated  to  the  Little  Blue  and, 
halting,  lay  upon  its  east  bank  until  evening, 
when  the  entire  command  crossed.  Colonel  Moon 
light  with  the  Eleventh  Kansas  and  the  artillery 
was  posted  on  the  west  bank  to  defend  the  cross 
ing,  with  orders,  if  necessary,  to  burn  the  bridge, 
for  which  purpose  a  torch  made  from  the  dry 
plank  was  prepared  and  placed  upon  the  centre  of 
the  bridge  ready  for  the  match.  General  Blunt 
with  the  principal  part  of  his  force  proceeded  to 
Independence,  eight  miles  west  of  the  crossing. 
At  eight  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  twenty- 
first  the  enemy  made  their  appearance  on  the 
east  bank  of  the  creek  and  immediately  com 
menced  an  attack  on  our  little  force,  who  gallant 
ly  disputed  their  passage  to  the  bridge,  finally  ap 
plying  the  torch.  It  was  soon  wrapped  in  flames, 
which  served  to  check  their  impetuous  advance 
for  a  short  time. 

In  the  meantime  Colonel  Moonlight  dispatched 
a  messenger  to  General  Blunt,  at  Independence, 
informing  him  of  the  attack  by  the  rebels  and 
that  he  would  be  compelled  to  fall  back  and  allow 
the  enemy  to  cross  unless  re-inforced  without  de 
lay.  General  Curtis  had  just  completed  the  or 
ganization  of  the  different  brigades  as  the  mes 
senger  rode  into  Independence  with  the  dispatch. 

The  bugle  was  immediately  sounded  and  the 
JTirst  Division,  consisting  of  the  Second  Colorado 


96  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Cavalry  (also  including  the  Fifteenth,  Sixteenth 
and  Eleventh  Kansas  Cavalry,  the  latter  already 
at  the  scene  of  action),  three  companies  of  the 
Third  Wisconsin  Cavalry,  and  the  First  Colorado 
Battery ;  in  all  about  fifteen  hundred  men,  under 
the  command  of  Major  General  James  G.  Blunt, 
proceeded  to  the  front  at  about  eleven  o'clock  in 
the  morning. 

The  First  Brigade,  consisting  of  the  Second 
Colorado  Cavalry  (Major  J.  Nelson  Smith),  the 
First  Colorado  Battery  (Captain  W.  D.  McLain), 
and  four  companies  of  the  Sixteenth  Kansas  Cav 
alry,  was  commanded  by  our  gallant  Colonel, 
James  H.  Ford.  The  column  moved  forward  at  a 
gallop  until  within  one  mile  of  the  Little  Blue. 
Here  they  were  joined  by  Colonel  Moonlight,  who 
had  been  contesting  the  enemy's  advance  at  the 
same  time  slowly  falling  back ;  the  enemy  having 
succeeded  in  effecting  a  crossing  both  above  and 
below  the  bridge.  To  dismount  and  throw  down 
some  rail  fences  was  but  the  work  of  a  moment, 
and  a  line  was  formed,  the  Second  Colorado 
Cavalry  on  the  right,  the  Fifteenth  Kansas  on  the 
left,  and  the  Sixteenth  Kansas  in  the  centre  ;  the 
Batallion  of  the  Third  Wisconsin  joining  Colonel 
Moonlight. 

Moving  forward  to  the  right  through  the  heavy 
timber  for  the  distance  of  half  a  mile,  our  line 
gained  an  advanced  position,  and  the  Second 
Colorado  was  dismounted  and  in  less  than  half  a 
minute  were  hotly  engaged  with  the  enemy. 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  97 

Pushing  forward  to  the  brow  of  the  next  hill,  a 
strong  force  was  discovered  posted  behind  a  stone 
wall  on  a  hill  to  our  left,  who  immediately  opened 
a  brisk  fire  on  our  advancing  column,  who  faltered 
not,  but  returning  shot  for  shot,  and  steadily  ad 
vancing  succeeded  in  driving  them  from  the  wall, 
at  the  same  time  exposing  our  own  force  to  a 
deadly  fire  from  the  hill  on  the  left ;  but  our  gal 
lant  little  force  succeeded  in  driving  them  from 
their  position  and  forcing  them  to  fall  back  about 
one  mile. 

Advancing  to  the  brow  of  a  hill,  our  troops  had 
barely  time  to  take  up  an  advantageous  position 
behind  a  high  fence,  when  a  heavy  column  of  the 
enemy,  led  by  the  notorious  bushwhacker  Todd, 
who  had  been  promoted  to  the  position  of  Colonel 
in  the  rebel  army,  and  who  declared  he  would  an 
nihilate  the  Second  Colorado  in  revenge  for  the 
death  of  many  of  his  followers  and  several  nar 
row  escapes  of  himself  at  their  hands  while  he 
was  engaged  in  bushwhacking  in  the  counties  of 
Jackson  and  Lafayette.  Our  regiment,  however, 
being  advantageously  posted,  poured  such  a  deadly 
fire  into  their  ranks  as  to  check  their  advance ; 
and  twice  they  were  compelled  to  fall  back,  but 
being  strongly  re-inforced  and  led  by  the  daring 
Todd,  they  came  up  the  third  time  and  our  little 
force  was  obliged  to  abandon  the  position  and  re 
tire,  which  they  did  in  perfect  good  order  keeping 
up  a  continuous  fire  upon  the  advancing  foe.  At 
this  period  of  the  engagement,  Major  J.  Nelson 


98  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Smith,  who,  by  his  kind  treatment  and  manly 
bearing  toward  both  officers  and  men.  .had  won  the 
love  and  esteem  of  the  entire  regiment,  while 
bravely  cheering  his  men  and  encouraging  them 
to  repel  the  fierce  onset  of  the  vastly  outnumber 
ing  foe,  not  hesitating  to  expose  his  person  wher 
ever  his  presence  was  necessary,  while  thus  nobly 
doing  his  duty  he  was  struck  by  a  minie  ball  that 
pierced  his  left  lung  and  falling  from  his  horse  he 
never  spoke  again.  No  truer  or  braver  man  ever 
drew  the  breath  of  life. 

He  fell,  as  only  a  hero  falls — 

Facing  a  deadly  foe — 
The  blood  gush'd  from  the  manly  heart, 

And  bathed  the  palid  brow. 

One  moment  gazed  that  gallant  band, 

Upon  the  stricken,  there  ; 
Then,  one  long  hoarse  determin'd  shout 

Rose  on  the  burdened  air. 

One  shout — he's  dead — revenge  !  revenge  ! 

A  thousand  bullets  sped, 
And  hurtling  through  the  rebel  band, 

Laid  many  a  traitor  dead. 

Dead  !  and  they  laid  a  mingled  mass 

Together,  man  and  horse  : 
Yet,  on  they  came,  their  legions  trod 

O'er  many  a  mangled  corpse. 

But  they  were  met  by  hands  as  firm 

As  e'er  a  sabre  drew  : 
Unflinching  was  their  Iron  front—' 

They  many  a  rebel  slew, 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  99 

He  sleeps— that  gallant  soldier  sleeps, 

Within  an  honored  grave  : 
Laid  there  by  loving  hands,  and  mourn'd 

By  many  a  gallant  brave. 

Mourned  as  only  soldiers  mourn 

A  hero  loved  and  lost : 
Oh  !  would  he  were  the  only  one 

This  cruel  war  had  cost ! 

At  the  announcement  of  his  death  the  men, 
who  almost  worshipped  him,  sent  up  a  savage 
yell  of  revenge,  and  under  the  command  of  the 
brave  Captain  Green,  the  next  officer  in  charge, 
they  stood  there  almost  entirely  unsheltered  and 
delivered  volley  after  volley  that  sent  a  storm  of 
leaden  hail  into  the  enemy's  ranks,  causing  many 
of  them  to  bite  the  dust,  among  whom  was  the 
notorious  Todd,  who  was  pierced  by  several  balls 
and  fell  dead  from  his  horse.  But  the  enemy 
pressed  on  and  our  troops  were  ordered  to  fall 
back  to  their  horses.  Having  mounted,  a  retreat 
was  ordered  and  the  entire  command  moved  for 
ward  on  the  road  to  Independence,  a  distance  of 
eight  miles ;  the  retreat  being  covered  by  Ford's 
Brigade.  This  gallant  band — a  mere  handful  of 
men  in  comparison  to  the  overwhelming  number 
of  the  enemy — under  their  able  and  gallant  com 
mander  sternly  contested  the  enemy's  impetuous 
advance  and  repelled  the  frequent  fierce  charges 
made  by  the  foe,  who  were  conscious  of  their 
vast  superiority  in  point  of  numbers  and  stung  at 
the  successful  resistance  made  by  our  troops. 


100  HISTORY   OF   THE 

Inch  by  inch  was  the  entire  road  to  Independence 
sternly  and  bravely  contested  by  our  little  force, 
protecting  the  rear  and  holding  the  impetuous 
enemy  in  check,  allowing  a  safe  and  perfectly 
orderly  retreat  of  our  entire  force.  Independence 
was  reached  at  sun-down  and  our  troops  moved 
on  to  the  Big  Blue,  about  five  miles  west  of  Inde 
pendence  on  the  Kansas  City  road,  and  the  day's 
battle  was  over. 

Here  camp  was  formed,  and  dismounting  from 
their  somewhat  jaded  horses  the  men  flung  them 
selves  upon  the  ground  and  were  soon  sound 
asleep,  with  the  exception  of  the  picket-guard, 
who  were  stationed  on  the  road  and  kept  a  vigi 
lant  watch  upon  the  enemy's  movements  who 
occupied  the  town  during  the  night.  Never  was 
rest  and  sleep  more  welcome  to  our  tired  forces, 
having  been  almost  constantly  on  the  alert  for 
the  preceding  week,  scouring  the  country  in  every 
direction,  sometimes  night  and  day ;  and  that 
day,  having  been  hotly  engaged  with  the  enemy 
from  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning  until  the  even 
ing,  it  required  no  effort  on  their  part  to  soon  for 
get  the  stirring  scenes  of  the  day  in  a  sound  slum 
ber. 

During  the  day  our  'wounded  were  removed 
from  the  scene  of  action  to  Independence,  where 
the  utmost  care  and  attention  of  the  citizens,  es 
pecially  the  female  portion,  was  bestowed  on 
them ;  and  be  it  said  to  their  credit,  a  considera 
ble  number  of  rebel  ladies  who  resided  in  the 


SECOND   COLORADOS.  .       101 

4 

place  came  to  the  rescue  with  bandages  and  lint 
to  stay  the  flow  of  blood  and  bind  up  the  shat 
tered  limbs  of  our  wounded. 

But  the  kind,  assiduous  attentions  of  the  few 
Union  ladies,  of  that  place  was  more  fully  appre 
ciated  by  our  men.  Constant  in  their  efforts  to 
ease  the  sufferers,  nothing  that  in  reason  could  be 
done*  was  left  undone  by  them  in  their  generous 
sisterly  care  of  those  who  suffered  and  bled  for  the 
Union  and  the  old  Flag  ;  long  will  they  be  held  in 
grateful  remembrance  by  the  Second  Colorado. 
Nor  less  noble,  nor  less  faithfully  did  our  surgeons 
perform  their  unpleasant  duty  of  binding  up  and 
stitching  the  ghastly  wounds  and  amputating  the 
fractured  limbs  of  our  brave,  unmurmuring 
soldiers ;  great  credit  is  due  them  for  their  con 
stant  and  untiring  energies,  exerted  to  alleviate 
pain  and  animate  the  men  with  kind  words  of 
encouragement  and  cheerfulness. 

The  men  sustained  their  injuries  with  heroic 
fortitude.  One  instance  deserves  particular  men 
tion,  a  young  man  named  Frank  Gould,  who  had 
but  recently  been  honorably  discharged  and  sub 
sequently  was  an  officer  in  the  Home  Guards  of 
Kansas  City,  at  the  approach  of  Price's  army, 
declared  his  preference  to  go  into  battle  with  his 
old  comrades  of  the  Second,  and  did  so,  and  was 
engaged  in  carrying  dispatches  on  the  field  when 
he  was  struck  by  a  portion  of  a  shell  that  almost 
literally  tore  his  shoulder  away,  he  was  placed  in 
an  ambulance,  and  taken  to  Independence ;  on 


102  HISTORY  OF  THE 

I 

arriving  there,  he  raised  his  hat  with  his  remain 
ing  arm  and  feebly  swinging  it  in  the  air,  shouted, 
"  Hurrah  for  the  Second  Colorado  and  the  Old 
Flag !" 

The  poor  fellow  lived  some  time  afterward,  but 
finally  died,  admired  and  beloved  by  all  who 
knew  him.  Just  previous  to  the  occupation  of 
the  town  by  the  enemy's  forces,  all  of  our 
wounded  who  could  be  removed  were  taken  to 
Kansas  City,  Major  Smith's  body  was  also  brought 
in  that  night  and  the  entire  place  was  filled  with 
gloom  and  sadness  to  see  that  in  a  few  short 
hours  some  of  the  bravest  and  best  beloved  of  our 
regiment  had  given  their  hearts  blood  for  the 
Union  cause  and  the  end  was  not  yet ;  how 
many  more  were  to  be  missed  from  that  brave 
band  only  time  could  tell. 


SECOND   COLORADOS.  103 


CHAPTER  vrn. 

The  day  previous  to  the  Battle  of  the  "  Little 
Blue,"  Captain  George  West,  with  about  fifty 
men  of  his  squadron  (Company  F),  was  sent  from 
Independence  with  dispatches  from  General  Cur 
tis  to  General  Blunt,  then  at  Lexington.  Upon 
nearing  the  latter  place  he  was  met  by  Captain 
Jack  Curtis,  who,  with  two  squadrons  of  the  Fif 
teenth  Kansas,  had  just  cut  his  way  out  from  the 
enemy  that  had  well  nigh  surrounded  a  portion  of 
our  forces.  Learning  from  Curtis  that  General 
Blunt  was  falling  back  on  another  road,  Captain 
West  wheeled  about  and  directing  his  course 
across  the  country  found  the  General,  delivered 
the  dispatches  and  returned  to  Independence  the 
same  night,  having  ridden  over  eighty  miles  with 
out  once  dismounting.  The  Captain  humorously 
remarked  that,  "  General  Price  had  reason  to  con 
gratulate  himself  upon  the  fact  that  I  met  Curtis 
as  I  did  ;  otherwise  he  would  have  been  whipped 
then  and  there,  or  else — I  should  ;  although  many 
would  have  had  serious  doubts  about  my  being 
able  to  cope  with  '  Old  Pap,'  who  was  said  to  have 
largely  out-numbered  me — say,  in  the  ratio  of 
thirty  thousand  to  fifty  men. "  The  day  after  the 
battle  little  was  done  by  either  of  the  forces, 


104  HISTORY  OF  THE 

aside  from  maneuvering,  skirmishing  and  placing 
troops  in  position  ;  on  our  part  to  guard  the  fords 
on  the  Big  Blue,  which  the  enemy  would  neces 
sarily  be  obliged  to  cross  in  his  onward  march. 

The  ford  on  the  road  leading  to  Kansas  City 
was  protected  by  Captain  McLain's  (First  Colo 
rado)  Battery  and  a  body  of  about  five  thousand 
troops. 

The  ford  a  few  miles  south — known  as  Byron's 
Ford — was  not  strongly  guarded,  only  a  small 
force  being  stationed  at  that  point ;  insufficient 
to  seriously  retard  the  progress  of  the  enemy,  who 
had  planted  a  masked  battery  of  three  brass  pieces 
to  protect  his  crossing,  which  was  discovered  by 
Captain  Hollaway  while  deploying  his  squadron 
( Company  L )  as  skirmishers. 

In  the  afternoon  a  party  of  the  enemy  were  dis 
covered  attempting  to  cross  and  were  fired  upon 
by  a  portion  of  the  Kansas  Militia,  when  in  com 
pliance  with  orders  from  Captain  Green,  com 
manding  the  regiment,  Captain  Hollo  way  with  his 
squadron  made  a  dashing  charge,  resulting  in  the 
the  capture  of  one  Captain,  one  Surgeon,  one 
Lieutenant  and  two  privates. 

In  the  evening  and  during  the  night  the  enemy 
crossed  his  entire  force,  his  movements  accelerated 
by  the  fact  of  General  Pleasanton  pressing  close 
on  his  rear  with  a  strong  force  of  Cavalry;  the 
enemy's  rear  guard  had  scarcely  left  Independence 
before  Pleasanton' s  advance  entered  the  town. 

Price's  army  was  drawn  up  in  battle  order  near 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  105 

Westport,  three  miles  south  of  Kansas  City,  op 
posed  by  Colonel  Ford's  Brigade,  Captain  McLain's 
Battery,  and  a  portion  of  the  Kansas  troops.;  the 
Kansas  Militia  having  ingloriously  fallen  back  be 
yond  the  Kaw  River,  crossing  at  Wyandotte. 

A  political  strife  was  at  its  height  in  Kansas  at 
the  time  of  the  invasion  of  Price's  army,  and  un 
fortunately  for  the  reputation  of  the  people  and 
the  State,  the  spirit  of  jealousy  and  contention 
was  carried  with  them  when  they  arose  as  one 
man  and  marched  to  the  border  to  repel  the  ene 
my's  threatened  invasion. 

No  grander  sight  was  ever  contemplated  than 
the  simultaneous  uprising  of  the  citizens  of 
Southern  Kansas,  when  the  call  was  made  to  take 
up  arms  against  the  invaders.  All  work  was  sus 
pended,  business  houses  closed  and  the  people, 
realizing  the  exigency  of  the  moment,  forgot  all 
else  in  the  determination  to  defend  their  homes. 
Hastily  forming  themselves  into  organized  com 
panies  and  regiments,  with  little  or  no  time  to  drill 
or  perfect  themselves  in  the  arts  of  war,  they 
marched  to  the  border  to  await  the  coming  of  the 
foe.  But  intriguing  parties  seeking  office,  em 
braced  the  opportunity  to  urge  their  selfish  claims 
upon  the  people,  and,  what  with  intriguing  and 
wire-pulling,  soon  excited  a  feeling  of  disgust  and 
dissatisfaction  in  the  ranks,  having  a  tendency  to 
destroy  confidence  and  obliterate  all  feelings  of 
patriotism  ;  many  >  were  under  the  impression  that 
the  foe  was  not  advancing,  but  the  campaign  was 


106  HISTORY  OF  THE 

gotten  up  for  speculation  among  leading  politi 
cians  ;  consequently  they  became  disheartened  and 
thousands  of  them  stacked  their  arms  and  refused 
to  cross  the  State  line.  Only  a  minor  proportion 
of  the  large  number  who  started  for  the  scene  of 
action  ever  saw  the  face  of  the  enemy — by  their 
action  very  forcibly  bringing  to  mind  the  couplet : 

"  The  King  of  France,  with  ten  thousand  men. 
Marched  up  the  hill  and — down  again  !" 

One  regiment  of  Infantry  from  Jefferson 
County,  that  reached  Olathe  four  hundred  and 
eighty  strong,  came  into  Kansas  City — the  day 
previous  to  the  battle  of  Westport — led  by  their 
Colonel  with  only  ninety  men,  the  balance  having 
absolutely  refused  to  proceed  any  further  ;  a  good 
many  of  their  officers  finding  they  could  not  in 
duce  the  men  to  move  forward  threw  away  their 
swords  and  taking  up  muskets  in  their  stead 
bravely  joined  the  ranks,  and  with  the  heroic  little 
band  followed  their  gallant  leader  to  meet  the  foe. 
Early  in  the  morning  of  the  twenty-third  of  Octo 
ber,  the  battle  of  Westport  began. 

General  Pleasanton  came  up  with  and  engaged 
the  rear  of  the  enemy.  At  the  commencement  of 
the  fight,  General  Brown  came  to  Pleasanton  and 
reported  his  skirmishers  driven  in  :  "Well,"  re 
sponded  the  General,  "  seeing  such  is  the  case,  what 
do  you  intend  doing  ?"  "I  don't  know,  sir  !"  was 
the  reply.  "  Then  go  to  the  rear  immediately 
and  consider  yourself  under  arrest ;"  was  the  stern 
command  of  General  Pleasanton,  highly  incensed 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  107 

that  an  officer  should  exhibit  such  ignorance  or  cow 
ardice  in  the  presence  of  the  enemy.  Some  sharp 
artillery  practice  ensued,  in  which  Captain  McLain's 
First  Colorado  Battery,  consisting  of  three-inch 
rifled  parrotts,  and  supported  by  a  portion  of 
the  Second  Colorado  Cavalry,  commanded  by  Cap 
tain  Boyd,  did  great  execution  in  thinning  the 
ranks  of  the  enemy — the  guns  capable  of  throwing 
shell  three  miles  with  precision.  A  desperate 
charge  was  made  by  the  enemy,  for  the  purpose  of 
capturing  a  portion  of  this  Battery  that  was  par 
ticularly  annoying  to  them  ;  but  they  were  hand 
somely  repulsed,  with  heavy  loss  in  killed  and 
wounded  and  prisoners  on  their  part.  The  lane 
up  which  they  charged  was  literally  strewn  with 
dead  and  wounded  men  and  horses.  The  battle 
ground  extended  over  a  large  area  and  at  differ 
ent  points,  the  fight  raged  with  greater  or  less 
fury  for  several  hours,  when  the  enemy  was  dis 
covered  moving  off  his  large  train  and  by  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the  entire  rebel  army  was 
in  full  retreat  toward  the  Arkansas  Eiver.  Our 
forces  immediately  engaged  in  the  pursuit,  a  col 
umn  under  Colonel  Moonlight  bearing  off  toward 
Olathe,  while  the  main  force  followed  in  the  rear. 
A  column  consisting  of  the  Second  Colorado  and 
the  Sixteenth  Kansas  Cavalry,  under  Colonel  Jen- 
ninson,  pushed  forward  and  succeeded  in  over 
taking  and  suddenly  striking  the  enemy  on  his 
right  flank,  six  miles  south-east  of  Little  Santa  Fe 
and  fifteen  miles  from  Westport.  Considerable 


108  HISTORY  OF  THE 

consternation  was  exhibited  by  the  rebels,  who 
supposed  that  our  entire  army  was  upon  them. 
Hastily  forming  two  lines  of  battle,  consisting  of 
about  six  thousand  men,  and  placing  a  battery  in 
position,  they  greeted  us  with  several  rounds  of 
shot  and  shell,  which,  fortunately  for  us,  had  no 
other  effect  than  to  cause  the  bobbing  of  several 
heads  belonging  to  persons  who  had  never  been 
under  fire  and  on  this  occasion  thought  it  policy 
to  be  polite  even  to  the  enemy. 

Having  no  artillery  and  our  force  being  insuf 
ficient  to  contend  with  the  enemy,  we  were  com 
pelled  to  fall  back  a  distance  of  three  miles,  where 
we  bivouaced  for  the  night. 

Incidents  were  not  wanting  to  show  the  spirit 
of  cool  courage  and  determination  of  our  men 
during  the  engagement  with  the  enemy.  Private 
James  Eoss,  of  Company  E,  Second  Colorado 
Cavalry,  had  taken  three  prisoners  and  was  con 
ducting  them  to  the  rear,  when  one  wheeled  his 
horse  about  and  attempted  to  escape.  Ross  turned 
in  his  saddle  to  shoot  him,  when  he  himself  re 
ceived  his  death  wound  from  a  musket  ball ;  not 
withstanding,  he  succeeded  in  safely  bringing  in 
the  other  two  prisoners,  turned  over  his  arms  to 
his  company  commander  and  lived  until  the  next 
day.  Private  Iker,  of  the  same  Company  and 
regiment,  during  the  fight  had  used  all  his  carbine 
cartridges  and  discharged  the  contents  of  both  of 
his  revolvers,  when  clubbing  his  carbine  he  dashed 
up  to  a  rebel  and  struck  him  dead  from  his  horse 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  109 

and  immediately  fell  dead  himself  pierced  by  a 
rebel  ball. 

By  sunrise  on  the  morning  of  the  twenty-fourth, 
the  entire  Division,  under  Generals  Curtis,  Pleas- 
anton  and  Blunt,  moved  forward  in  pursuit  of  the 
retreating  rebels,  who  were  a  considerable  distance 
in  the  advance  and  making  strenuous  exertions 
to  increase  that  distance,  only  anxious  to  be  "  let 
alone  "  that  they  might  make  good  their  escape 
from  what  they  were  now  fully  persuaded  was  a 
precarious  situation.  Their  booty  in  the  way  of 
subsistence,  of  which  they  expected  to  get  abun 
dance  in  the  country  through  which  they  passed, 
proved  altogether  insufficient  in  quantity  to  fully 
supply  the  demands  of  so  large  a  force,  which  had 
constantly  been  augmenting  since  their  arrival  on 
Missouri  soil ;  and  in  order  to  avoid  the  disastrous 
consequences  of  being  reduced  to  actual  starva 
tion  in  the  end,  they  were  obliged  to  subsist  on 
less  than  half  rations,  together  with  what  scanty 
supplies  could  be  foraged  in  the  sparsely  settled 
country  through  which  they  were  obliged  to 
pass. 

The  rebel  General,  Sterling  Price,  by  his  for 
mer  maneuvers  had  won  the  deserved  reputation 
of  being  a  skillful,  cunning  and  able  leader — in 
truth,  the  "most  daring  and  successful  raider 
that  the  Confederate  army  could  boast  of.  Ever 
on  the  alert  and  aware  of  the  danger  of  delay,  he 
caused  the  retreat  to  be  conducted  with  as  much 
rapidity  as  the  circumstances  would  permit,  allow- 


110  HISTORY  OF  THE 

ing  no  more  time  to  halt  than  was  absolutely 
necessary  to  rest  his  already  weary  and  hard- 
pressed  followers.  Our  forces  eagerly  joined  in 
the  pursuit,  which  was  continued  until  after  night 
had  set  in,  marching  the  distance  of  forty  miles, 
before  bivouacing  on  the  north  side  of  the  Marias 
des  Cygnes,  a  large  creek  on  whose  south  bank 
the  next  day's  battle  was  fought  that  proved  so 
disastrous  to  the  rebels.  The  night  was  very 
dark,  the  sky  overclouded  and  at  midnight  a  cold, 
chilling  rain  began  to  fall,  making  it  very  dis 
agreeable  and  unpleasant,  although  not  enough  to 
arouse  our  men  from  the  sound  and  refreshing 
slumber  they  were  enjoying ;  having,  as  soon  as 
the  halt  was  ordered,  laid  themselves  down  with 
the  ground  for  a  bed,  their  saddles  for  a  pillow 
and  a  blanket  for  a  cover. 

During  the  night  the  enemy's  pickets  had  been 
discovered  and  the  whereabouts  of  the  rebel  force 
ascertained  ;  and,  at  two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  a 
portion  of  the  Second  Colorado  on  the  left  and 
the  Fourth  Iowa  on  the  right,  moved  forward  as 
skirmishers  to  dislodge  the  enemy  from  the  brow 
of  the  hill  of  which  they  had  taken  possession. 
In  the  early  part  of  the  night,  Companies  E,  I  and 
K,  of  the  Second,  under  the  command  of  Captain 
Kingsbury,  had  been  reconnoitering  in  the 
advance  and  under  cover  of  the  darkness  of  the 
night,  suddenly  came  upon  the  rebel  pickets 
and  succeeded  in  killing  six  of  them  and  wound 
ing  several.  Forming  in  line,  the  Battalion 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  Ill 

awaited  reinforcements  before  moving  forward, 
and  in  the  meantime  Captain  Kingsbury  dis 
patched,  at  different  intervals,  four  messengers 
back  to  the  commanding  General  informing  him 
that  the  enemy  were  near  and  in  force. 

After  awaiting  near  by  two  hours,  Captain  Hin- 
ton  rode  up  and  informed  Kingsbury  that  Blunt' s 
Division,  which  had  been  in  the  advance  of  the  col 
umn  the  preceding  day,  had  been  ordered  to  halt, 
to  allow  Pleasanton's  Division  to  take  the 
advance,  and,  in  consequence  of  the  necessary 
delay,  the  column  was  five  or  six  miles  back. 
Upon  the  strength  of  this  information,  Captain 
Kingsbury,  realizing  the  imprudence  of  attempt 
ing  to  hold  the  line  unsupported,  faced  the  Battal- 
lion  about  and  fell  back  a  considerable  distance, 
when  they  were  met  by  the  Eighth  Missouri,  who, 
owing  to  the  change  in  the  Divisions,  mistook  our 
men  for  the  rebels,  supposing  themselves  to  be  in 
advance  of  the  column.  The  order  to  unsling 
carbines  was  given  and  the  rattle  of  arms  was 
distinctly  heard  by  Kingsbury 's  Battalion  when 
the  Captain  halted  the  command  and  riding  for 
ward  alone,  succeeded  after  some  time  in  impres 
sing  the  incredulous  Colonel  of  the  Eighth,  with 
the  true  nature  of  the  circumstances  and  the 
identity  of  our  force  ;  and  equally  as  difficult  was 
it  to  convince  him  of  the  fact  that  the  pickets  had 
been  driven  in  and  the  whereabouts  of  the  enemy's 
advance  line ;  in  order  to  satisfy  his  inquisitive- 
ness  and  incredulity,  Captain  Kingsbury  ordered 


112  HISTORY  OF  THE 

his  Orderly-Sergeant,  Ferree,  to  take  four  men  and 
approach  near  enough  to  draw  the  fire  of  the 
enemy  and  at  the  same  time  not  expose  them 
selves  unnecessarily.  Ferree  approached  the  out 
posts  and  was  hailed  by  a  sentinel:  "Who  goes 
there  ?"  which  question  was  answered,  Yankee- 
like,  by  Ferree's  response:  "Who  are  you?" 
"  Confederate  soldiers,"  was  the  reply  and  the 
sound  of  his  voice  had  scarcely  died  away  when 
the  vivid  flash  and  sharp  report  of  the  carbines  of 
the  brave  Sergeant  and  his  daring  comrades  drew 
upon  them  the  concentrated  fire  of  a  number  of 
the  enemy,  causing  quite  a  shower  of  leaden  hail 
to  fall  around  our  boys,  who  having  obeyed 
orders  and  accomplished  the  desired  object,  retired 
and  joined  their  command,  the  Colonel  having 
expressed  himself  fully  satisfied  'that  if  he  had 
been  doubtful  all  was  removed  as  it  was  certain 
there  was  an  enemy  in  the  front.  Resuming  his 
march  to  the  rear  in  order  to  regain  the  regiment, 
Captain  Kingsbury  was  met  by  Major  Hunt  of 
General  Curtiss'  staff,  with  orders  to  proceed  to 
the  front  and  in  connection  with  the  Eighth 
Missouri  and  Second  Arkansas  in  the  centre,  the 
Fourth  Iowa  on  the  right  and  the  Colorado  Battal 
ion  on  the  left,  to  advance  upon  the  enemy's  line 
and  open  the  ball,  which  order  was  promptly 
obeyed  just  before  daybreak,  and  notwithstand 
ing  the  fall  of  a  cold  rain  and  the  darkness  of 
the  night  our  troops  silently  advanced  amid  a 
shower  of  musket-balls  from  the  enemy,  the  flash 


SECOND  COLORADO^.  113 

of    their    guns    distinctly    visible    at   every    dis 
charge. 

It  was  the  hour  just  before  day,  which  is  said  to 
be  the  darkest — which  assertion  was  literally  true 
in  the  present  instance — the  darkness,  increased 
by  over-clouded  sky  and  the  pouring  rain,  rend 
ered  it  so  great  that  it  was  with  difficulty  that  our 
line  was  discernible  at  the  distance  of  a  few  paces ; 
the  rebels  aware  of  our  coming  by  the  tramp  of 
our  horses,  kept  up  a  continuous  line  of  fire  from 
their  carbines,  aimed  at  random,  which  accounted 
for  the  slight  execution  done.  It  was  a  grand 
and  somewhat  exciting  scene — our  line  steadily 
advancing  to  drive  the  rebels  and  gain  possession  of 
the  hill  on  which  they  were  posted  ;  their  presence 
made  known  only  by  the  vivid  and  incessant  flash 
and  sharp,  ringing  report  of  their  rifles  ;  the  con 
stant  whirring  sound  of  the  little  leaden  messen 
gers  of  death  that  fell  around  them  resembling  in 
sound  the  sudden  rushing  of  a  bee  past  one's  ear, 
although  not  so  pleasant  to  a  nervous  person 
made  sensibly  aware  of  the  dangerous  mission  of 
the  former.  In  the  meantime  day  began  to  break 
in  the  east,  dimly  discovering  the  position  of  the 
enemy,  and  simultaneously  with  its  dawn  the 
deep  welcome  thunder  tones  of  our  cannon, 
planted  two  miles  in  the  rear,  broke  upon  our 
ears,  and  presently  the  whizzing,  whirring,  howl 
ing  shell  came  rushing  over  our  heads,  and  falling 
rather  short  of  its  mark  exploded  in  rather  un 
comfortably  close  proximity  to  our  line,  having 


114  HISTORY  OF  THE 

the  effect  to  make  our  men  feel  nervous  and 
anxious  as  to  their  own  safety ;  the  experienced 
gunners  discovered  their  shortcomings  and  ele 
vating  their  pieces  the  next  shells  burst  directly 
among  the  enemy,  creating  considerable  con 
sternation  in  their  ranks  and  causing  great 
confusion,  when  they  broke  and  fled  over  the 
brow  of  the  hill  pursued  by  our  eager  and  exult 
ant  forces,  who  made  the  welkin  ring  with  their 
prolonged  shouts  and  cheering  hurras. 

The  hill  gained  by  our  forces,  the  rebels  were 
discovered  drawn  up  in  line,  about  three  thousand 
strong,  three  hundred  yards  on  the  other  side, 
awaiting  our  appearance.  Placing  a  battery  of 
two  guns  in  position,  they  saluted  our  troops  with 
a  few  rounds  of  shot  and  shell  and  breaking 
ranks  crossed  the  Marias  des  Cygnes  at  the  ford, 
when  General  Sanborn  was  heard  to  say,  •"  Send 
out  that  Colorado  Battalion  to  clear  the  ford, 
they'll  fight." 

Upon  receiving  the  order,  Captain  Kingsbury's 
Battalion  of  the  Second  Colorado,  charged  and 
carried  the  ford  without  loss,  very  unceremoni 
ously  interrupting  the  strenuous  efforts  of  the 
enemy  to  blockade  the  crossing  by  felling  trees 
into  it,  for  the  purpose  of  delaying  our  advance. 
The  trees  were  soon  removed  and  Sanborn' s  Bri 
gade  crossed  over  and  found  the  enemy  drawn  up 
in  line  a  few  hundred  yards  in  advance,  with  a 
battery  of  two  guns  in  position.  Instantly  forming 
line  of  battle,  with  the  Eighth  Missouri  on  the  left, 


SECOND  COLOR  ADOS.  115 

the  Second  Arkansas  on  the  right,  and  the  Colo 
rado  Battalion,  under  Kingsbury,  in  the  center;  our 
advance  moved  forward  out  of  the  woods,  along 
and  on  both  sides  of  the  road,  when  the  enemy 
opened  his  battery  and  throwing  a  few  shells  in 
the  ranks  of  the  Eighth  Missouri,  they  hastily  fell 
back  under  cover  of  the  woods,  and  a  few  well-di 
rected  shots  had  the  same  effect  upon  the  Second 
Arkansas,  leaving  the  Colorado  Battalion  alone 
and  still  advancing  under  a  galling  fire  from  the 
battery,  the  enemy  expecting  that  a  similar  experi- 
.ment  with  it  would  be  productive  of  a  similar 
result.  Captain  Kingsbury  said  his  orders  were  to 
advance  and  he  intended  to  obey  them,  although 
he  was  positively  forbidden  to  charge  the  enemy. 
Presently  the  rebel  line  gave  way  and  hauling 
off  their  battery  left  our  forces  masters  of  the 
field. 

At  this  juncture  Major  Hunt  rode  up,  and  re 
marking  to  Kingsbury  that  his  Battalion  had  done 
sufficient  for  that  day,  ordered  him  to  halt  and  re 
join  his  regiment  when  it  came  up.  The  Battalion 
was  dismounted  and  the  horses  fed  from  an  ad 
jacent  corn-field,  while  the  advance  of  the  com 
mand  pushed  on  in  pursuit  of  the  retreating  army. 
At  five  miles  distance  from  the  crossing  of  the 
Marias  des  Cygnes,  the  enemy  again  formed  line 
of  battle  to  contest  the  impetuous  advance  of  our 
troops  ;  a  sharp  skirmish  fight  lasted  for  a  f ew 
minutes,  when  Colonel  Benteen's  Brigade  made  a 
brilliant  charge,  resulting  in  the  capture  of  Gen- 


116  HISTORY  OF  THE 

erals  Marmaduke  and  Cobbell,  five  hundred  other 
prisoners  and  six  pieces  of  cannon. 

The  rebels  fought  well,  and  their  resistance  was 
determined,  but  they  were  not  prepared  to  with 
stand  nor  repel  a  charge  from  our  forces,  being 
armed  only  with  carbines  or  rifles,  while  a  great 
portion  of  our  men  were  armed  with  sabres 
and  revolvers,  and  one  regiment,  the  Fourth  Iowa 
Cavalry,  carried  Spencer's  Carbines,  a  seven- 
shooter,  and  considered  a  very  effective  weapon. 

The  charge  and  capture  occupied  but  a  few 
minutes,  the  enemy  convinced  of  the  uselessness 
of  resistance  to  the  confident  and  determined 
onset  of  our  forces. 

Had  the  suggestions  of  General  Blunt  been  fol 
lowed,  the  result  would  doubtless  have  been  the 
capture  of  a  large  portion  if  not  the  entire  rebel 
army.  His  plan  was  to  continue  the  pursuit  that 
morning  with  the  main  body,  but  to  throw  a 
strong  force  across  the  Marias  des  Cygnes,  at  a 
ford  three  miles  above  and  to  the  right,  and 
strike  the  rebels  on  their  right  flank  and  thereby 
cutting  their  army  in  two,  when  the  rear  portion, 
being  completely  surrounded,  would  have  been 
compelled  to  surrender  at  discretion,  and  it  would 
have  required  no  strenuous  exertion  on  our  part 
to  have  succeeded  in  capturing  the  remainder  of 
the  already  discouraged  and  dispirited  enemy. 
And  the  long,  tedious  and  expensive  pursuit  would 
have  been  avoided ;  but  his  plan  was  not  adopted, 
and  hence  the  result.  After  the  battle  which  was 


SECOND  COLOR  ADOS.  117 

on  the  prairie,  the  ground  was  strewn  with  the 
dead  and  wounded ;  particularly  at  the  crossing 
of  Mine  Creek,  a  small  stream  near  the  scene  of 
the  charge,  where  the  rebels  were  closely  pursued 
by  our  men,  while  in  their  hurried  attempts  to 
cross  over  and  escape  many  threw  away  their 
guns  without  attempting  to  discharge  them,  so 
great  was  their  desire  to  escape  being  taken  pris 
oners  ;  although  those  who  fell  into  our  hands 
seemed  well  satisfied  with  the  exchange  effected, 
and  some  of  them  were  disposed  to  be  jocular 
over  the  event,  indulging  in  humorous  allusions 
to  their  condition ;  to  the  inquiry  as  to  where  he 
belonged,  one  of  them  replied  :  "  To  the  whipped 
Confederacy."  Another,  to  the  same  inquiry, 
said  he  was  "  One  of  Price's  '  purps !' ' 

During  the  charge,  a  private  soldier  rode  to 
General  Marmaduke  with  an  imperative  demand 
for  his  surrender ;  disdaining  to  become  the  pris 
oner  of  one  so  far  beneath  his  rank.  Marmaduke 
demurred  haughtily  against  complying,  saying 
something  about  his  not  being  the  proper  person 
to  surrender  to,  when  the  cavalry  man's  carbine 
was  quickly  brought  to  a  level  with  his  eye,  and 
the  "  Duke"  was  glad  to  acknowledge  its  power, 
and  submitted  to  be  taken  captive,  by  "a  private," 
without  another  murmur,  glad  to  have  escaped  a 
worse  fate.  The  youthful  soldier  who  captured 
him  was  rewarded  for  his  bravery  by  being  pre 
sented  with  Marmaduke' s  belt  and  revolvers,  by 
General  Curtis. 


118  HISTORY  OF  THE 

The  rebel  General  was  a  large  man,  of  stout 
muscular  form  and  rather  portly ;  he  wore  a 
light  jeans  coat  and  pants  of  the  same  material, 
and  altogether  his  general  appearance  and  style  of 
dress  was  calculated  to  impress  one  with  the  idea 
that  an  old  Pennsylvania  farmer  stood  before  him, 
instead  of  the  shrewd,  cunning  and  able  officer 
that  he  had  proved  himself  to  be  on  more  than 
one  occasion. 

Sterling  Price  considered  him  as  the  most  able 
and  responsible  officer  of  his  command,  and  hence 
entrusted  to  him  the  protection  of  the  rear  of  the 
rebel  army  and  holding  in  check  the  pursuing 
forces.  Another  stand  was  made  by  the  enemy 
at  Little  Osage,  a  small  stream  of  that  name,  but 
our  forces  succeeded  in  driving  them  as  before, 
with  little  or  no  loss  on  our  side. 

Almost  destitute  of  rations,  our  regiment  was 
ordered  to  proceed  to  Fort  Scott,  where  they 
arrived  at  ten  o'clock  that  night,  having  ridden 
sixty  miles  that  day  without  food  and  but  little 
rest.  The  regiment  joined  in  the  pursuit  almost 
entirely  unprovided  with  rations,  some  of  the 
companies  having  no  more  than  a  ration  of  hard 
tack  ;  consequently,  a  large  proportion  of  the  men 
were  without  food  for  over  thirty  hours,  during 
which  time  they  were  almost  constantly  in  the 
saddle.  For  two  hours  previously  to  the  arrival 
of  the  command  at  the  Fort,  it  was  with  tha 
greatest  difficulty  that  the  men  kept  their  seats  in 
the  saddles,  on  account  of  having  been  deprived 


SECOND  COLORAbOS.  119 

of  sleep  for  so  long  a  period ;  requiring  constant 
exertion  to  maintain  an  upright  position.  So 
exhausted  were  they,  that  on  coming  into  camp 
at  the  Fort,  many  of  them  were  able  merely  to 
dismount,  ungirth  the  saddle,  and  laying  it  down 
threw  themselves  beside  it  and  were  almost 
immediately  wrapped  in  a  sound  slumber.  On 
the  morning  of  the  twenty-sixth,  the  pursuit  was 
resumed,  all  the  men  with  worn-out  horses  having 
been  sent  back  to  Kansas  City,  under  command 
of  Captain  Evans,  of  Company  A,  Second  Colo 
rado.  The  rebels  had  been  too  closely  pursued  to 
allow  them  to  take  Fort  Scott,  which  would  have 
been  an  easy  matter  for  them  to  have  accom 
plished  had  they  not  been  so  strongly  pressed  by 
our  forces  in  the  rear.  But  their  safety  was  in 
rapid  retreat,  and  every  effort  on  their  part  was 
made  to  accelerate  their  movements;  a  large 
number  of  their  wagons  were  burned,  ammunition 
destroyed  and  arms  thrown  away ;  in  fact  the 
route  of  their  retreat  was  literally  strewn  with 
abandoned  property  of  every  description. 


120  HISTORY  OF  THE 


CHAPTER  IX. 

On  the  twenty-seventh,  the  army  reached  Car 
thage,  Missouri,  a  village  that  had  been  partially 
destroyed  with  fire  by  a  band  of  bushwhackers, 
some  five  weeks  previous. 

Here  they  found  the  ambulance  that  contained 
the  medicines  belonging  to  the  rebel  army  almost 
entirely  consumed  by  fire ;  together  with  aban 
doned  arms,  horses,  saddles  and  camp  equipage ; 
everything  indicating  a  panic  in  the  rebel  ranks, 
and  extreme  haste  in  their  endeavor  to  outstrip 
their  pursuers.  On  the  twenty-eighth,  the  near 
presence  of  the  foe  became  distinct. 

Therefore  Colonel  Ford,  commanding  the  Brig 
ade,  ordered  Captain  Holloway's  Company  (L)  to 
proceed  as  skirmishers,  and  hard  and  desperate 
encounters  took  place,  resulting  in  the  entire 
routing  of  Price's  army ;  throwing  death  and  dis 
may  through  his  whole  command.  Many  deeds 
of  valor  and  bravery  could  be  recited  of  the 
Second  Colorado  and  their  brave  companions  in 
arms  on  that  eventful  compaign :  very  much  is 
lost  to  history,  as  those  who  were  witness  rest  in 
their  graves.  Private  Karr,  of  Company  H, 
whose  horse,  in  the  battle,  had  been  shot  through 
the  head  and  was  bleeding  profusely,  when  told 


SECOND   COLORADOS.  121 

by  his  company  commander  that  he  had  better  go 
to  the  rear,  took  a  parting  fire  at  the  enemy  and 
fell  back  a  few  paces,  reloading  his  carbine  as  he 
went  and  when  completed  wheeled  about  and 
rejoining  the  ranks  gave  the  foe  the  benefit  of 
"one  more  round,"  repeating  the  act  several 
times,  momentarily  expecting  his  horse  to  fall, 
but  loath  to  quit  the  field — coolly  remarking 
that  all  he  wanted  was  to  "give  the  rascals  one 
more  shot." 

Private  Click,  of  Company  C,  who  was  a  consid 
erable  distance  in  the  rear  when  the  battle  com 
menced,  in  charge  of  a  mule  team,  drove  up  to 
the  lines,  while  the  guns  were  thundering  away 
and  shot  falling  thick  around  him,  deliberately 
stopped  and,  with  the  coolness  of  a  man  about 
taking  a  small  contract,  shouted,  "Halloo,  here  ! 
what  do  you  want  done  with  this  team  ? "  causing 
considerable  merriment  along  the  line  where  his 
voice  was  heard.  The  remarkable  degree  of  cool 
courage  exhibited  by  the  men,  had  the  effect  of 
daunting  the  enemy,  they  not  daring  to  "  charge" 
where  the  opposing  forces  were  apparantly  deter 
mined  to  maintain  their  ground  at  all  hazards. 
Particularly  did  they  evince  a  wholesome  dread  of 
the  "White  Horse  Kegiment,"  as  they  were  wont  to 
term  the  Second  Colorado  Cavalry  ;  two  companies 
of  which,  E  and  K,  were  mounted  upon  white 
chargers.  Nor  was  their  fear  based  upon  ground 
less  reasons,  for  upon  several  occasions  they  had 
suffered  greatly  under  their  galling  fire,  which 


122  HISTORY   OF  THE 

told  severely  upon  their  numbers  by  thinning 
their  ranks,  and  whenever  the  "Second"  came 
into  an  engagement,  the  dismayed  rebels  would 
remark,  "  There  goes  that  White  Horse  Regi 
ment."  And  well  they  might  so  exclaim,  for  in 
every  perilous  place  they  were  to  be  found  ;  their 
powers  of  indurance  seemed  to  exceed  all  others. 
The  night  succeeding  the  battle  of  Newtonia,  a 
courier  arrived  from  Fort  Scott  with  a  telegraphic 
dispatch  from  General  Rosecranz,  containing 
orders  for  the  immediate  abandonment  of  the 
pursuit,  the  disbanding  of  the  army,  and  the 
return  of  the  troops  to  their  respective  places  of 
rendezvous.  Inopportune  as  the  receipt  of  this 
order  was  at  the  time,  General  Curtis  felt  bound 
to  obey  its  requirements,  and  the  next  day  the 
army  was  disbanded  and  the  various  organiza 
tions  started  on  the  return  home.  When  the 
dispatch  reached  Fort  Scott,  it  was  evident  to  the 
commanding  officers  that  Rosecranz  was  igno 
rant  of  the  true  state  of  the  campaign  and  a 
dispatch  was  immediately  forwarded  to  Wash 
ington  in  regard  to  the  matter,  apprising  the 
authorities  of  the  movements  of  the  two  armies 
and  notifying  them  of  General  Rosecranz' s  order. 
In  reply,  a  telegram  was  received  from  General 
Grant  countermanding  Rosecranz's  orders,  and 
ordering  the  pursuit  continued  until  the  rebel 
army  were  captured  or  driven  across  the  Arkan 
sas  River.  The  dispatch  reached  General  Cur 
tis  the  next  day,  in  the  evening,  he  having 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  123 

already  marched  ten  miles  from   Newtonia   on 
the  return. 

The  command  was  halted  for  the  night,  and  on 
the  morning  of  the  thirtieth  resumed  the  pursuit, 
and  arriving  at  Newtonia  the  same  evening, 
camped  in  the  town  over-night.  On  the  morning 
of  the  thirty-first,  in  accordance  with  orders  from 
the  commanding  General,  the  troops  were  mus 
tered.  The  sparse  supply  of  rations  on  hand 
—consisting  of  "hard  tack,"  bacon  and  coffee, 
with  the  addition  of  a  barrel  of  molasses  that  the 
enterprising  boys  succeeded  in  "gobbling" — was 
distributed,  and  at  ten  o'clock  the  remnant  of  the 
army,  mustering,  all  told,  less  than  four  thousand 
men,  continued  the  pursuit  of  the  retreating  foe  in 
the  direction  of  Fayetteville,  Arkansas.  Through 
an  egregious  blunder  somewhere,  the  unfaltering 
band  had  lost  the  advantage  gained,  giving  the 
enemy  time  to  collect  their  terror-stricken  troops, 
and  not  only  that,  but  reduced  our  own  force  and 
started  them  on  the  return  with  little  or  no 
provision,  through  a  section  of  country  already 
stripped  by  the  enemy ;  yet  our  little  army 
marched  twenty -two  miles  on  that  day,  in  a 
south-east  direction,  for  the  purpose  of  striking  the 
Lexington  and  Fayetteville  Road,  which,  there  was 
good  reason  to  believe,  the  enemy  had  taken  with 
the  intention  of  reaching  and  crossing  the  Arkan 
sas  Eiver  at  the  nearest  practicable  point.  Early 
on  the  morning  of  the  first  of  November,  the 
command  was  visited  by  a  heavy  rain  that 


124:  HISTORY  OF  THE 

thoroughly  soaked  their  bedding  and  wearing 
apparel  and  roused  them  from  a  sound  slumber. 
Just  before  daylight  the  rain  slackened  up  and 
taking  advantage  of  its  cessation  numerous  camp- 
fires  sprang  into  existence  throughout  the  encamp 
ment,  fed  by  rails  from  the  fences  of  which  the 
men  were  not  sparing,  in  their  efforts  to  dry  their 
clothes  and  warm  their  thoroughly  chilled  and 
benumbed  bodies.  By  the  time  that  day  had 
fully  made  its  appearance,  the  brisk  fires  and  the 
double  rations  of  corn  essence  that  was  ordered  to 
be  issued  had  the  effect  of  dispelling  the  chilly 
sensations  and  ere  long  general  good  humor 
prevailed ;  each  one  in  his  turn  laughingly 
relating  the  mishaps  that  befell  him  during  the 
night.  How  refreshingly  they  were  slumbering, 
and  how  the  water  came  down  upon  them  from 
the  hillside  and  damming  up  against  their  bodies, 
the  thick  blankets  and  great-coat  repelling  and 
holding  it  at  bay  for  a  time,  but  how  it  eventually 
found  its  way  through  completely  saturating  the 
the  bed  and  deluging  the  already  chilled  body 
with  an  almost  icy  bath,  causing  the  recipient  to 
very  suddenly  assume  an  upright  attitude  to 
avoid  an  embrace  so  unrefreshing,  while  the  lips 
would  shape  the  exclamations  they  uttered  into 
anything  but  a  prayer.  When  the  rest  had  given 
in  their  experience,  our  Colonel  of  the  "Second,  " 
who  had  during  the  entire  campaign  shared  in  the 
danger,  toils  and  privations  with  the  common 
soldier — eating  the  same  fare  and  contenting 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  125 

himself  with  the  camp-life,  rough  as  it  was— 
came  up  and  good-humoredly  remarked:  "Well 
boys,  I  suppose  you  are  all  wet  through,  so  am  I. 
I  spread  my  blankets  down  between  the  corn-rows, 
with  my  overcoat  for  a  pillow,  and  being  consider 
ably  fatigued  was  soon  in  a  sound  sleep,  from 
which  I  did  not  awake  until  a  few  minutes  ago, 
my  blanket  serving  to  keep  the  rain  off  effectual 
ly.  I  was  congratulating  myself  upon  my 
comfortable  quarters,  when  raising  my  head  to 
look  about  me  my  pillow,  which  served  as  a  dam 
for  about  fifty  gallons  of  water  which  had  collect 
ed  above  me,  suddenly  gave  way  and  the  entire 
flood  most  unceremoniously  deluged  myself  and 
bed  rendering  my  quarters  so  uncomfortable  that 
I  determined  to  abandon  the  spot,  which  I  instant 
ly  did,  viewing  the  action  in  the  light  of  a  military 
necessity ;  but,  boys,"  continued  the  Colonel, 
drying  himself  by  the  fire  and  still  shivering  from 
the  effects  of  his  cold  bath,  "I'm  as  wet  as  a 
drowned  rat !"  The  boys  had  a  hearty  laugh  at 
the  Colonel's  mishap,  which  was  as  heartily  joined 
in  by  the  Colonel  himself,  who  could  always  relish 
a  joke  even  though  at  his  own  expense.  At  eight 
o'clock  the  army  moved  forward  and  in  the 
afternoon  reached  the  Lexington  and  Fayetteville 
road,  and  went  into  camp  three  miles  from  the 
scene  of  the  memorable  battle  of  the  "Pea 
Ridge,  "  having  marched  fifteen  miles  through  the 
rain  and  mud.  The  ground  was  now  thoroughly 
soaked  and  the  water  lay  in  pools,  rendering  it 


HISTORY  OF  THE 

difficult  for  the  men  to  obtain  a  spot  on  which  to 
rest  comfortably  for  the  long,  dreary  night. 

Rain  fell  for  the  greater  part  of  the  night 
and  the  entire  following  day ;  the  command 
remaining  in  camp  awaiting  its  cessation. 
The  Brigade,  under  Colonel  Benteen,  that  was 
some  distance  in  the  rear,  arrived  during 
the  afternoon,  together  with  the  ambulance- 
train  that  had  not  been  with  the  command  since 
the  charge  at  Marias  des  Cygnes.  Another  dis 
agreeable  night  was  passed  by  the  troops,  who 
resorted  to  all  sorts  of  expedients  to  remedy  their 
unpleasant  situation,  rendered  more  so  by  the 
great  scarcity  of  provisions  in  camp  and  the 
almost  barren  prospect  of  soon  obtaining  a  sup 
ply  adequate  to  the  requirements  of  so  large  a 
number  in  the  country  through  which  we  passed  ; 
the  rebel  army  having  stripped  the  inhabitants  on 
their  line  of  retreat  of  almost  everything  that 
was  eatable,  with  the  exception  of  beef,  of  which 
a  plentiful  supply  was  obtained  and  heartily  par 
taken  off  by  the  men  ;  with  the  scant  allowance  of 
hard  bread  on  hand,  a  meal  was  prepared  that 
was  eaten  with  a  keen  relish,  to  appease  appetites 
that  were  sharpened  by  the  cold,  chilly  atmos 
phere,  the  falling  rain  and  the  fatiguing  march. 

That  night,  as  the  one  preceding,  it  rained 
almost  incessantly,  flooding  the  ground  to  such 
an  extent  as  to  render  it  almost  impossible  to 
escape  the  water  either  from  overhead  or  from 
beneath.  Some  of  the  men  who  crowded  into  a 


SECOND   COLORADOS.  127 

few  log  cabins  that  were  near,  fared  compara 
tively  well ;  but  many  were  compelled  to  remain 
up  the  greater  part  of  the  night ;  others  mak 
ing  a  foundation  of  rails  and  sticks  of  wood, 
spread  their  wet  blankets  upon  it  and  slept  as 
well  as  could  be  expected  under  the  circum 
stances.  On  the  morning  of  the  third  of  Novem 
ber,  the  command  again  took  up  the  line  of 
march,  in  spite  of  the  falling  rain  and  muddy 
road,  and  at  about  eight  o'clock,  we  passed  over 
the  battle  ground  of  "  Pea  Ridge,"  the  furrowed 
ground  and  the  scarred  and  torn  trees  giving 
evidence  of  the  fierce  struggle  between  the  Union 
and  the  Eebel  forces  in  the  year  1861.  At  ten 
o'clock  it  commenced  snowing  and  continued 
throughout  the  balance  of  the  day.  A  march  of 
eighteen  miles  was  accomplished  and  the  army 
went  into  camp  on  the  left  of  the  road,  among  a 
dense  growth  of  underbrush,  which  served  the 
double  purpose  of  a  barrier  to  the  cold,  chilling 
wind  and  a  partial  protection  from  the  storm  of 
snow  and  sleet.  Abundance  of  wood  was  at 
hand  and  soon  huge  fires  were  built  throughout 
the  camp,  and  the  now  thoroughly  hungry  men 
were  soon  busy  frying,  roasting  and  broiling  beef, 
of  which  a  plentiful  supply  was  obtained  on  the 
road  and  driven  into  camp.  At  three  o'clock  on 
the  morning  of  the  fourth,  the  camp  was  aroused 
by  the  shrill  notes  of  the  bugle  sounding  the 
assembly,  and  in  one  hour's  time,  the  command 
was  moving  forward  in  the  direction  of  Fayette- 


128  HISTORY  OF  THE 

ville,  Arkansas,  where  a  portion  of  the  rebel  army, 
under  the  notorious  Fagan,  was  laying  siege  to 
that  post ;  which  was  defended  by  the  First  Arkan 
sas  Infantry  regiment,  with  two  small  howitzers. 
The  storm  had  now  abated,  although  it  was  yet 
stinging  cold,  and  the  command  pushed  forward 
as  fast  as  the  condition  of  the  roads  and  the  jaded 
stock  would  admit  of,  to  relieve  the  heroic  garri 
son  from  the  attack  of  five  times  their  number, 
assisted  by  two  pieces  of  artillery.  The  thunder 
of  the  cannon  was  distinctly  heard,  and  our 
troops  eagerly  pushed  forward  with  the  almost 
certain  expectation  of  having  an  engagement  with 
the  enemy ;  but  Fagan  had  his  scouts  out,  and 
being  made  aware  of  our  approach  raised  the 
siege  and  fled  in  the  direction  of  Cane  Hill,  where 
the  main  body  of  Price's  army  was  camped.  The 
command  reached  Fayetteville  at  eleven  o'clock, 
the  rebels  having  abandoned  the  siege,  three 
hours'  previous.  The  garrison  and  the  citizens  of 
the  town  were  necessarily  frightened  at  the  unex 
pected  appearance  of  such  a  large  force  of  the 
enemy,  and  were  greatly  relieved  upon  witnessing 
our  approach.  The  siege  had  lasted  some  four 
hours,  resulting  in  the  killing  of  a  rebel  Lieu 
tenant  and  two  privates ;  the  garrison  suffering 
no  loss  further  than  the  wounding  of  one  man, 
and  the  damaging  of  a  few  houses  with  rebel  shot 
and  shell.  One  conspicious  house,  into  the  cellar 
of  which  was  congregated  fifty  or  sixty  women 
and  children,  was  completely  riddled ;  five  shells 


SECOND   COLORADOS.  129 

having  passed  directly  through  it,  and  one  of 
them  exploding  in  the  kitchen  shattered  the 
walls  in  a  frightful  manner.  A  solid  shot  fired  at 
this  house,  passed  through  the  hewed-log  walls 
and  striking  a  mule  killed  it  instantly.  On  arriv 
ing  at  the  Post,  the  command  immediately  went 
into  camp  and  remained  during  the  day  to  rest 
the  jaded  stock.  At  twelve  the  next  day,  they 
were  again  in  motion,  pursuing  the  route  taken 
by  the  retreating  enemy,  through  the  Ozark 
Mountains,  in  a  south-west  direction  toward  Cane 
Hill,  a  little  village  nearly  twenty  miles  distant 
from  Fayetteville.  That  night  our  troops  camped 
at  Prairie  Grove.  Here  the  men  feasted  on  the 
abundance  of  apples  that  were  found  in  the  neigh 
boring  orchards,  affording  a  luxury  that  was  alto 
gether  unexpected  and  consequently  all  the  more 
welcome.  These  together  with  plenty  of  beef, 
pork  and  Sorghum  molasses,  that  was  discovered 
hidden  away,  afforded  a  living  that  was  very 
heartily  partaken  off  and  very  highly  appreciated 
by  the  men. 

The  ground  exhibited  abundant  evidence  of 
the  hardly  contested  battle  fought  here  in  1862. 
The  prairie,  containing  some  two  hundred  acres, 
was  entirely  surrounded  by  a  grove  of  small 
timber,  inside  of  which  the  Union  army  was 
camped,  and  hundreds  of  tent  stakes  were  still 
protruding  from  the  ground  ;  grape-shot,  percus 
sion  shells  and  musket  balls  were  strewn  about ; 
trees  were  scarred  and  torn,  and  in  some  instances 


130  HISTORY  OF  THE 

entirely  severed  by  a  passing  shot.  On  the  morn 
ing  of  the  sixth,  the  pursuit  was  renewed  ;  about 
noon,  the  command  reached  Cane  Hill  and  found 
it  had  been  evacuated  by  the  rebel  forces  in  the 
greatest  haste  and  alarm — having  been  informed 
by  their  scouts  that  a  Federal  force,  thirty  thou 
sand  strong,  was  rapidly  approaching  to  capture 
or  annihilate  the  entire  rebel  army.  On  receiving 
this  information,  the  greatest  consternation  pre 
vailed  and,  although  it  was  late  in  the  evening, 
orders  were  issued  to  march  immediately ;  and 
disencumbering  themselves  of  every  thing  that 
could  cause  them  any  delay,  they  fled  percipitately 
in  the  direction  of  the  Arkansas  Eiver,  in  the 
hope  of  reaching  and  crossing  it  before  being  over 
taken.  All  of  their  sick,  who  were  unable  to  pro 
ceed  without  the  aid  of  ambulances,  were  left 
here  in  charge  of  one  of  their  surgeons,  who  fled 
that  morning,  telling  the  poor  fellows  that  he 
could  do  nothing  for  them  and  that  he  would  be 
killed  if  he  was  captured.  The  men  had  been 
impressed  with  the  same  idea,  and  at  the  approach 
of  our  army,  those  who  were  able,  left  the  rude, 
uncomfortable  buildings  in  which  they  were 
placed  and  took  to  the  woods,  some  crawling 
upon  their  hands  and  knees.  Several  of  these 
were  found  by  our  men  and  brought  back  and 
supplied  with  rations  and  medicine  of  which  they 
were  entirely  destitute.  Their  gratitude  for  the 
acts  of  humanity  practiced  by  our  troops  was 
almost  without  bounds,  tears  of  joy  streaming 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  131 

from  their  eyes,  at  the  unexpected  kindness  ; 
knowing  well  the  brutality  with  which  our  troops 
were  treated  in  the  South  by  their  men,  they 
feared  a  retaliation  on  their  part  of  ours  if  taken 
by  them. 

The  rebels,  dead  and  wounded,  were  picked  up 
all  along  the  road  and  placed  in  our  ambulances 
to  be  taken  care  of. 

The  rebel  army  was  driven  to  the  line  of  Texas, 
when  the  pursuit  was  given  up  and  our  troops 
returned  back  weary  and  worn  ;  some  of  their 
horses  dying  under  them  from  sheer  exhaustion. 
A  portion  of  several  companies  of  the  regiment 
were  detailed  to  escort  General  Fisk,  who  had 
charge  of  the  prisoners  ;  with  orders  to  take  them 
to  the  nearest  shipping  point  to  be  exchanged  ;  this 
done,  the  different  Divisions  were  marched  back 
to  headquarters. 

For  gross  mismanagement  and  short-sighted 
ness,  coupled  with  an  extreme  degree  of  audacity 
and  daring,  this  campaign  had  few  parallels. 


132  HISTORY  OF  THE 


CHAPTER  X. 

While  the  rebel  army  occupied  Independence, 
it  was  completely  surrounded  by  our  forces.  On 
the  east,  by  Pleasanton  with  nearly  sixteen  thou 
sand  men ;  on  the  west,  by  Generals  Curtis  and 
Blunt  with  a  force  of  at  least  eight  thousand ; 
while  on  the  north,  egress  was  blocked  up  by  the 
Missouri  River;  and  on  the  south,  by  the  "Little 
Blue,"  whose  mirv,  bottom  and  steep  banks  ren 
dered  it  impassable  for  cavalry  and  artillery, 
while  the  timber  and  heavy  growth  of  underbush 
was  so  dense  as  to  prevent  the  approach  of  a 
body  of  troops  to  the  streams,  except  by  the  roads 
leading  to  the  fords.  General  Curtis  had  the 
advantage  of  the  strong,  natural  defense  afforded 
by  the  "  Big  Blue,"  running  directly  between  the 
Union  and  Rebel  forces,  and  forming  a  line  of 
complete  breastworks,  and  which  could  only  be 
crossed  at  three  points  :  At  its  mouth  on  the 
Missouri  River,  where  the  stream  was  hardly 
fordable  and  where  the  timber  was  so  dense  that 
it  was  rendered  difficult  of  access  except  by  small 
parties,  consequently  offering  no  inducements  for 
the  passage  of  an  army ;  at  the  ford  on  the 
Kansas  City  and  Independance  Road,  commanded 
by  high  bluffs  on  the  west  bank  where  a  battery 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  133 

could  command  the  approach  to  the  crossing  and 
sweep  the  narrow  canon  through  which  the  road 
passed  on  emerging  from  the  stream  ;  and  at 
what  was  known  as  " Byron's"  Ford,,  a  few  miles 
south  and  on  Curtis'  extreme  left,  and  the  most 
practicable  passage  for  the  rebel  army,  and  the 
one  through  which  the  rebels  would  attempt  to 
force  their  way  on  discovering  the  precarious 
situation  in  which  they  were  placed  by  the  Union 
forces  aided  by  the  natural  barriers  to  their  farther 
progress  ;  but  either  through  a  culpable  neglect 
on  the  part  of  the  Commanding-General,  or  the 
lack  of  proper  confidence  in  his  own  force  and  the 
strength  of  his  position,  this  point  was  very  lightly 
guarded,  and  the  rebel  army  escaped  from  a 
position  in  which  to  use  a  correct  expression  in 
reference  to  the  matter  at  the  time,  they  were 
" completely  corralled."  The  next  blunder  was 
committed  at  the  Marias  Des  Cygnes,  when  Gen 
eral  Blunt' s  practicable  proposition  was  unheeded : 
to  cross  the  stream  with  a  portion  of  the  army, 
and  strike  the  enemy  on  his  right  flank  thereby 
dividing  his  forces  and  completely  surrounding 
the  rear  Divisions,  compelling  their  surrender  and 
the  consequent  surrender  of  Price's  entire  army. 
Another  manifest  display  of  bad  generalship 
exhibited  itself  through  the  entire  campaign : 
With  the  exception  of  but  a  single  instance  our 
army  never  marched  in  more  than  single  columns, 
and  varying  in  length  from  five  to  fifteen  miles ; 
while  the  enemy  proceeded  in  from  two  to  four 


134  HISTORY   OF   THE 

columns  abreast  and  were  at  all  times  enabled  to 
present  a  solid  front,  well  supported,  when  at 
tacked  in  the  rear  by  a  part  of  our  scattered 
forces.  The  exceptional  instance  alludes  to 
Colonel  Moonlight's  Regiment  which  left  the 
command  after  the  battle  of  Westport,  and 
proceeded  along  the  border  by  way  of  Olathe, 
Paola  and  Fort  Scott,  rejoining  the  command  at 
the  latter  mentioned  place.  During  the  charge  at 
Marias  Des  Cygnes,  although  on  the  open  prairie, 
but  one  Division  participated,  while  another 
halted  in  the  immediate  vicinity  to  feed  their 
horses.  At  the  battle  of  Newtonia  only  nine 
hundred  of  our  men  were  engaged,  and  they 
stood  there,  gallantly  and  heroically  contesting 
the  field  against  ten  times  their  number  for  nearly 
three  hours  before  the  next  Division  arrived, 
although  they  came  up  at  the  gallop  on  receiving 
the  dispatch  announcing  the  opening  of  the 
engagement  by  Blunt' s  forces.  After  going  into 
camp  the  following  general  order  was  issued  by 
the  General  commanding : 

"HEADQUARTERS,  CAMP  ARKANSAS,  Nov.  8. 

"The  object  of  this  organization  and  campaign 
is  accomplished.  The  rebel  army  under  General 
Sterling  Price  has  been  confronted,  beaten  in 
several  conflicts  and  pursued  and  driven  over 
three  hundred  and  fifty  miles,  from  the  Missouri 
to  the  Arkansas. 

"This   has    been  the  work  of  fourteen  days. 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  135 

Your  marches  have  been  incessant,  sometimes  for 
days  and  nights  in  rain  and  snow,  and  generally 
on  short  rations  gathered  from  the  herds  lost  by 
the  enemy.  Your  privations,  toil  and  gallantry 
deserve  the  highest  commendation,  and  the  suc 
cess  of  the  campaign  in  which  you  have  so 
gloriously  participated,  most  of  you  from  the 
beginning  to  the  end,  must  entitle  you  to  the 
thanks  of  your  Government  and  the  gratitude  of 
the  loyal  people  of  your  country. 

"Your  losses  are  considerable,  but  nothing  in 
comparison  with  those  of  the  enemy,  who  admits 
a  loss  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing  of  eight  or 
ten  thousand. 

"  All  of  his  cannon  but  two,  a  large  portion  of 
his  small  arms,  his  vast  wagon-train  loaded  with 
spoils  and  herds  of  cattle  and  horses  have  been 
left,  burned  and  scattered  in  the  way  of  your 
pursuit.  But  the  greatest  achievements  of  this 
campaign  are  the  driving  of  a  desperate  class  of 
vagrant  associates  of  the  rebels  so  far  from  your 
homes  and  the  States  you  defend.  Beside  this, 
your  stern  resistance  and  close  pursuit  saved  the 
towns  and  garrisons  of  Kansas  City,  Olathe, 
Paola,  Fort  Scott,  Fayetteville,  Fort  Gibson  and 
Fort  Smith,  and  the  valuable  public  stores  of  these 
places ;  besides  checking  ulterior  purposes  of 
slaughter  and  desolation  contemplated  by  the 
invasion  in  Kansas.  But  it  would  tarnish  the 
brilliancy  of  your  achievements  to  claim  this  for 
yourselves  alone,  without  acknowledging  with 


136  HISTORY   OF  THE 

gratitude  the  share  borne  in  the  brunt  of  the 
contest  by  the  troops  of  Missouri,  of  Iowa,  of 
Wisconsin,  and  the  militia  of  Kansas,  who  shared 
the  dangers,  and  because  of  their  greater  numbers 
especially  deserve  more  of  the  honors  due  the 
conflicts  of  the  twenty -fourth,  twenty-fifth  and 
twenty-eight  of  October.  But  to  you,  including 
the  Brigade  of  Colonel  Benteen,  who  have  shared 
in  most  of  these  battles  and  continued  throughout 
the  long,  weary  pursuit  to  the  dark  and  turpid 
waters  of  the  Arkansas,  where  your  guns  thun 
dered  in  the  rear  of  the  starving,  terrified  enemy, 
must  be  accorded  the  special  commendation  of  the 
Commanding- General  and  the  generous  approval 
of  your  country.  The  special  honor  due  to  dis 
tinguished  comrades  in  the  campaign  will  be 
carefully  presented  by  the  Commanding-General 
in  his  report  to  Headquarters,  at  Washington,  and 
to  secure  the  most  exact  justice  to  so  many 
deserving  commendation,  Commanders  of  divi 
sions,  brigades,  detachments  and  staff-officers  will 
make  full  reports,  directed  to  Headquarters,  Fort 
Leavenworth,  at  their  earliest  convenience." 

In  parting  the  General  tendered  his  thanks  to 
the  officers  and  soldiers  for  their  generous  support 
and  prompt  obedience  to  orders,  and  to  his  staff 
for  their  unceasing  efforts  to  share  the  toil, 
incident  to  the  campaign.  The  pursuit  of  Price 
in  1864,  and  the  battles  of  Lexington,  Little  Blue, 
Big  Blue,  Westport,  Marias  Des  Cygnes,  Osage, 


SECOND  COLORADO^. 

Chariot,  and  Newtonia,  will  be  borne  on  the 
banners  of  regiments  who  shared  in  them ; 
and  the  States  of  Missouri,  Iowa,  Kansas, 
Colorado,  Illinois,  Indiana,  Wisconsin  and 
Arkansas  may  glory  in  the  achievements  of 
their  sons  in  this  short  but  eventful  campaign. 
By  the  Commanding-General  at  least  the  soldiers 
of  Colorado  received  the  credit  they  deserved  ; 
yet  in  many  of  the  official  reports  we  find  but 
little  credit  given  them  for  their  endurance," 
especially  in  their  hard  campaigns  through 
Mexico. 

The  Confederate  army  being  driven  from  the 
States  of  Missouri  and  Kansas,  and  the  haunts  of 
the  bushwhackers  being  broken  up,  there  was  no 
longer  work  for  such  a  force,  and  much  to  the  dis 
may  of  the  citizens  of  the  State  where  our  troops 
had  been  staying  the  Second  Colorado  was 
ordered  to  leave  and  report  at  Fort  Leavenworth, 
Kansas. 

The  State  of  Missouri  during  our  stay  had 
changed  very  much  in  appearance,  instead  of  the 
fields  lying  uncultivated  as  before,  our  men  at 
every  opportunity  had  helped  the  feeble  men  and 
women,  to  put  their  fences  in  order  and  get  in 
crops,  and  the  result  was  a  bountiful  yield  of 
every  thing  such  as  they  had  not  gathered  in  years, 
hence  their  sorrow  at  the  removal  of  our  regi 
ment.  During  the  Price  raid  our  Quartermaster 
with  the  sick  and  all  regimental  property,  spare 
horses  and  such  like,  had  been  camped  on  Cedar 


138  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Creek,  in  Kansas,  within  sound  of  the  fight ; 
scouts  coming  in  every  little  while  to  apprize  him 
of  how  the  battle  was  getting  on.  The  mules 
were  kept  for  a  number  of  hours  hitched  to  the 
'  wagons  expecting  every  minute  to  hear  the  order 
to  forward  march ;  as  the  enemy  outnumbered 
our  forces  so  much  it  seemed  almost  impossible  for 
them  to  stand  their  ground,  but  the  God  of  Battles 
decided  in  our  favor  and  we  were  recalled  and 
with  the  rest  of  the  regiment  concentrated  at 
Kansas  City,  marching  from  there  to  Fort  Leaven- 
worth  where  we  were  ordered  to  the  field,  to 
await  further  developments  and  camped  on  a  bot 
tom  near  the  garrison  ;  the  men  doing  camp  and 
other  duties  such  as  was  from  time  to  time 
assigned  them ;  scouting,  escorting  and  such  like 
active  service.  It  was  but  a  few  weeks  ere 
reports  kept  coming  of  Indian  depredations  on  the 
plains,  and  the  result  was  the  Second  Colorado 
was  ordered  to  Fort  Riley  for  the  purpose  of  stop 
ping  the  Indian  trouble  and  to  chastise  the  guilty 
ones.  Here  a  difficulty  arose.  Companies  A  and 
B,  whose  time  was  virtually  up  just  about  the 
time  of  the  Price  raid,  did  not  like  the  idea  of 
passing  another  winter  on  the  plains.  Some  of 
the  men  had  gone  from  the  States  at  the  first  cry 
of  Pike's  Peak,  and  had  left  their  families  behind 
hoping  to  get  some  of  the  golden  treasure.  The 
great  uprising  in  the  South  fired  every  patriot 
heart  and  commending  their  dear  ones  to 
God's  mercy,  they  threw  down  the  miner's 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  139 

tools  and  marched  valiantly  at  the  sound  of  the 
drum. 

As  the  war,  was  prolonged  beyond  their  expec 
tations  they  kept  on  and  011  hoping  for  the  end 
that  they  could  soon  go  to  their  loved  ones  ;  thus 
time  sped  on  and  many  of  them  had  been  absent 
for  several  years ;  and  when  the  order  came  for 
them  to  go  on  the  plains  again  it  looked  like  great 
injustice  after  such  a  faithful  servitude. 

A  request  was  made  that  they  should  have  their 
discharge,  which  was  forwarded"  to  Washington, 
by  their  commanding  officer,  Colonel  Jas.  H.  Ford ; 
marching  orders  meanwhile  had  been  issued  to 
the  regiment  and  the  Colonel  was  absent  on  fur 
lough,  therefore  Major  Pritchard  took  command 
and  all  left  Fort  Leaven  worth  together,  but  orders 
were  sent  after  the  command  to  the  effect  that 
Companies  A  and  B  return  next  day  to  Fort 
Leavenworth  preparatory  to  being  mustered  out, 
which  order  was  cheerfully  obeyed  and  bidding 
good-bye  to  the  rest  of  the  regiment  the  two  com 
panies  returned  to  Fort  Leavenworth  and  going 
into  camp  again  awaited  the  coming  of  the  pay 
master,  who  on  the  twenty-first  day  of  December, 
1864,  paid  off  and  discharged  from  the  Army, 
Companies  A  and  B  of  the  second  Colorado,  who, 
bidding  farewell  to  their  comrades,  myself  and 
children,  went  on  their  way  with  hopeful  hearts. 
The  regiments  of  Colorado  were  unlike  those  of 
other  States ;  in  this  way  the  men  who  volun 
teered  in  that  Territory  had  gathered  there  to  the 


140  HISTORY  OF  THE 

mines  from  every  part  of  the  globe,  and  in  those 
regiments  every  State  and  almost  all  Nations  were 
represented ;  therefore,  when  discharged,  they  were 
scattered  again  to  the  four  winds  with  small  hope 
of  ever  being  together  again. 

As  here  my  travels  with  the  regiment  ended  I 
must  depend  on  such  information  as  I  gained  from 
time  to  time  by  letter.  The  remainder  of  the  regi 
ment  went  to  Fort  Eiley  and  as  the  Indians  were 
very  troublesome  it  was  actively  employed  in  try 
ing  to  hold  them  in  subjection,  and  where  stationed 
at  Fort  Riley,  Fort  Zarah,  Fort  Ellsworth,  Fort 
Larned,  and  other  camps.  In  a  communication 
from  Fort  Larned  it  reads,  "  We  have  been  visited 
with  a  storm  the  most  severe  I  ever  witnessed  and 
I  shall  never  see  such  another.  A  scout  arrived 
here  on  Saturday  evening  and  reported  a  train 
which  left  here  on  the  eighteenth  for  Fort  Eiley, 
with  an  escort  of  forty-two  men,  was  attacked  by 
three  hundred  Indians,  when  seventy  miles  out ; 
lost  one  man  killed ;  private  Joseph  Fields,  of 
Company  F,  private  Donahue,  of  Company  M, 
and  one  man  named  Cole,  belonging  to  the  first 
Colorado  Cavalry,  wounded  ;  the  former  seriously. 
They  all  suffered  severely  from  cold  ;  were  obliged 
to  burn  a  portion  of  the  train  to  keep  from  freez 
ing.  The  boys  were  somewhat  scattered  at  the 
time  of  the  attack  chasing  buffalo ;  the  Indians 
got  between  them  and  the  main  party,  and  when 
the  rest  came  up  the  Indians  betook  to  flight." 

Another  letter  from  Larned  says  :     "  We  have 


SECOND  COLORADO^.  141 

quite  a  number  of  sick  here  and  no  one  to  attend 
them  properly.  Lost  one  man  of  our  squadron 
since  coming  here,  Rosson  of  Company  M."  One 
from  Fort  Ellsworth,  January  twenty-third,  reads, 
' '  Company  L  left  Fort  Riley  on  the  sixteenth  and 
arrived  on  the  nineteenth  ult.  Distance  traveled, 
ninety  miles.  We  shall  proceed  to  erect  huts,  or 
f burrows'  in  the  ground,  which  ever  way  is 
deemed  most  expedient.  If  the  kind  of  weather 
we  have  been  having  for  three  days  past  con 
tinues,  underground  apartment  will  suit  us  best." 
Miles  Jain,  Sergeant  of  Company  I,  writes  from 
Fort  Scott:  "  There  are  four  of  us  here  within 
the  walls  of  the  hospital,  three  of  Company  L 
and  one  of  Company  I,  all  severely  wounded. 
We  are  waiting  for  fine  weather,  to  rejoin  our 
regiment.  I  sometimes  console  myself,  that  we 
escape  the  suffering  you  endure  with  the  bad 
weather,  but  when  I  think  of  the  hole  through 
my  breast  I  try  to  think  it  is  all  right  as  it  is." 

Such  was  the  fortitude  with  which  they  were 
bearing  their  sufferings,  and  trying  through  it  all 
to  encourage  each  other. 

From  Fort  Zarah,  February  second,  one  says: 
"  A  small  party  of  men  were  detailed  to  cut  and 
haul  some  dry  wood  from  an  Island  in  the  Arkansas 
River,  about  the  distance  of  a  mile  from  the  Post. 
They  had  been  on  the  Island  but  a  short  time 
before  the  report  of  fire-arms  were  heard,  and 
much  to  the  surprise  of  all,  one  of  their  number 
came  running  toward  the  wagons,  not  reaching 


142  HISTORY  OF  THE 

them,  however,  before  he  fell  to  the  ground.  But 
very  few  of  the  party  were  armed,  and  supposing 
there  were  Indians  in  the  vicinity  and  not  know 
ing  their  numbers  they  concluded  to  hasten  to  the 
Post  and  give  the  alarm.  Lieutenant  Coy  was 
immediately  sent  out  with  a  party  of  men,  and, 
on  arriving  at  the  spot,  found  Private  Dutton,  of 
Company  C,  Second  Colorado  Cavalry,  severely 
wounded  in  several  places ;  the  wounded  man 
was  removed  to  the  Post  hospital,  and  slight 
hopes  were  entertained  of  his  recovery.  It  was 
supposed  there  was  no  more  than  three  Indians 
on  the  ground  as  there  was  no  trail  to  warrant  a 
different  opinion.  The  four  squadrons  ordered  to 
this  Post,  composed  of  C,  E,  G  and  K  Companies, 
arrived  on  Wednesday  evening,  the  twenty-fifth, 
ult.  We  had  a  hard  time  in  making  the  trip. 
At  Salina  we  encountered  a  very  severe  snow 
storm  which  continued  for  one  day  and  night. 

"  The  boys  as  a  general  thing  suffered  to  a  great 
extent,  more  especially  K  Company,  who  were 
without  tents.  The  idea  of  soldiers  marching  on 
the  plains  at  this  season  of  the  year  should  never 
have  been  entertained,  unless  actual  necessity  re 
quired  it.  On  arriving  here  we  relieved  several 
companies  of  the  Third  Wisconsin  Cavalry,  who 
started  for  Leavenworth  next  day. 

"  We  took  possession  of  their  i quarters'  consist 
ing  of  holes  dug  in  the  ground  and  covered  with 
brush  and  dirt.  There  is  nothing  tasty  nor  fan 
ciful  about  them,  but  they  are  comfortable.  The 


SECOND   COLOftADOS.  143 

duty  of  this  Post  is  very  heavy  for  the  amount  of 
men  stationed  here.  We  escort  the  mail-coach 
from  here  to  the  Smoky  Crossing,  between  this 
Post  and  Fort  Larned,  and  about  twenty-five  miles 
of  the  road  to  Council  Grove  ;  also,  all  Government 
trains  passing  by  the  Post  in  either  direction. 
The  guard  details  call  for  four  and  five  men  also 
per  day  from  each  Company." 

Fort  Zarah  is  situated  on  Walnut  Creek,  about 
one  mile  above  its  entrance  into  the  Arkansas 
Kiver.  It  is  one  hundred  and  thirty  miles  west 
of  Fort  Eiley  and  thirty-five  miles  east  of  Fort 
Larned.  The  site  is  a  beautiful  one  and  the  only 
objection  to  be  made  to  it  is  the  scarcity  of  tim 
ber.  On  the  fifteenth  of  March,  the  information 
reaches  us  of  the  sick  left  behind  at  Fort  Leaven- 
worth,  thus  :  "Private  Lowe,  of  Company  K,  is  on 
duty  at  Attache  camp  ;  George  Dickerson,  of  K, 
is  on  furlough  ;  Hicks  is  lame  with  the  rheuma 
tism;  W.  W.  Jones,  Company  H,  is  discharged 
the  service  on  account  of  sore  eyes ;  Drullard,  of 
H,  went  home  on  furlough,  re-enlisted,  and  got  a 
big  bounty  in  a  veteran  corps  in  Illinois  ;  A.  Lum- 
bert,  of  Company  C,  got  discharged  and  is  gone 
home ;  D.  A.  Conklin  and  Alexander  Hamilton 
are  at  their  usual  avocation  ;  D.  B.  Sweep  is  at 
the  Post  Hospital  yet." 

March  the  twenty-first,  Company  H,  of  the  Sec 
ond,  reached  Fort  Zarah  on  their  way  from  Fort 
Ellsworth  to  Fort  Larned,  Lieutenant  Albert  L. 
Gooding  in  command  ;  resuming  their  march  next 


144  HISTORY  OF  THE     , 

day  accompanied  by  Companies  C  and  G,  of  the 
same  regiment,  under  the  command  of  Lieuten 
ants  Spencer  and  Hennion. 

A  few  days  later  General  Ford  passed  by  on  his 
way  to  Fort  Larned,  making  the  trip  from  Fort 
Kiley  to  Fort  Zarah  in  about  forty-eight  hours,  a 
distance  of  one  hundred  and  sixty-five  miles. 

Company  K  received  marching  orders  to  go 
forward  to  Fort  Larned,  from  which  point  Gen 
eral  Ford,  accompanied  by  one  hundred  men,  pro 
ceeded  to  the  Cimmerone  Crossing.  Thus  it  was 
the  sabre  of  the  Second  Colorado  had  no  chance 
to  rust  in  its  scabbard,  after  the  redskins  here  as 
they  had  been  after  the  bushwhackers  before, 
scarcely  could  they  breathe  a  sigh  of  menace  ere 
it  was  borne  on  the  wings  of  the  wind  to  the  sol 
diers  of  the  Second  Colorado  and  they  were  after 
them  pell-mell. 


SECOND  COLORDOS.  145 


CHAPTER  XI. 

In  the  early  part  of  May,  General  Ford  with  a 
command  of  about  five  hundred  men  and  four 
howitzers,  supplying  his  troops  with  twenty  days' 
rations,  proceeded  south  of  the  Arkansas  River  to 
a  place  known  as  the  Salt  Plains,  where  fifteen 
hundred  warriors  were  reported  to  be  encamped 
and  refused  to  be  peaceable.  From  that  direction 
they  had  been  for  some  time  sending  out  their 
bands  to  murder  and  steal.  On  the  twentieth  of 
May,  Joseph  Kuhn,  Company  H,  of  the  Second 
Colorado  Cavalry,  and  Johnson,  of  the  same  regi 
ment,  left  Fort  Larned  to  hunt  stray  horses.  A 
few  miles  west  of  Fort  Zarah  they  were  pursued 
by  five  Indians.  Endeavoring  to  make  their  es 
cape  Kuhn's  horse  was  shot  and  fell,  leaving 
Kuhn  dismounted  and  at  the  mercy  of  the  Ind 
ians,  and  he  was  killed  and  scalped  by  them  after 
discharging  two  shots  from  his  revolver.  John 
son's  horse  becoming  frightened  and  unmanage 
able  he  was  unable  to  stop  him  to  render  assist 
ance,  and  returned  to  report  as  quickly  as  possi 
ble.  An  ambulance  was  sent  after  the  body, 
which  was  brought  in  and  buried  at  Fort  Zarah. 
A  party  went  in  pursuit  of  the  Indians,  but  with 
out  success.  About  the  same  time  a  party  of  fif- 


146  HISTORY  OF  THE 

teen  Indians  attacked  a  train  at  Ash  Creek,  eight 
miles  east  of  Lamed,  and  drove  off  all  the  mules 
but  two  and  made  their  escape,  although  there 
were  twenty  infantry  along.  It  was  reported  the 
officer  in  charge  would  not  allow  them  to  fire. 
General  Ford  and  command  arrived  at  Fort  Larned 
the  same  evening. 

In  the  early  part  of  May,  Corporal  John  Harper, 
of  Company  K,  Second  Colorado  Cavalry,  who 
was  wounded  in  the  arm  at  the  battle  of  New- 
tonia  and  subsequently  discharged  the  service, 
was  killed  by  bushwhackers  near  Pleasant  Hill, 
Missouri.  At  last  giving  his  life  for  the  Union 
cause. 

On  the  twelfth  of  June,  while  escorting  the 
U.  S.  Mail-coach  from  Cow  Creek  to  Fort  Zarah, 
Lieutenant  Jenkins,  of  the  Second,  and  six  men, 
were  attacked  about  four  miles  from  the  former 
place  by  about  one  hundred  Indians.  Ordering 
the  coach  back  Lieutenant  Jenkins  and  his  little 
party  heroically  stood  their  ground  and  fought 
the  bloodthirsty  savages,  who  charged  up  within 
ten  feet,  slightly  wounding  two  men  belonging  to 
Company  G,  Seventh  Iowa  Cavalry ;  in  the  fight 
one  Indian  and  one  pony  were  killed.  On  the 
arrival  of  the  coach  at  Cow  Creek,  Captain  Ham 
mer,  of  the  Seventh  Iowa,  immediately  started 
with  fifty-five  men  to  the  scene  of  action.  The 
Indians  had  moved  in  a  south-west  direction ; 
chase  was  then  given  and,  although  they  had  two 
miles  the  advance,  our  force  succeeded  in  overtak- 


SECOND   COLORADOS.  147 

ing  them  as  they  were  crossing  the  Arkansas 
River,  killing  and  wounding  at  least  fifteen 
Indians.  Leaving  a  Sergeant  and  twenty  men  to 
guard  the  crossing,  the  pursuit  was  continued 
three  miles  on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  but 
being  unable  to  overtake  them  they  were  obliged 
to  abandon  it.  About  the  same  time  Sergeant 
Cronk,  Company  I,  Second  Colorado  Cavalry, 
with  twenty  men,  while  escorting  a  train,  were 
attacked  by  nearly  one  hundred  Indians  at  the 
Plum  Butes,  fifteen  miles  from  Fort  Zarah,  on 
the  Council  Grove  Road:  our  men  drove  the 
Indians.  Patrick  Sullivan  got  separated  from  the 
command  and  was  supposed  to  have  been  killed. 
Sergeant  Doud,  of  Company  G,  Seventh  Iowa 
Cavalry,  with  twenty  men,  drove  thirty  Indians 
across  the  Arkansas  River. 

Lieutenant  Hennion,  Second  Colorado  Cavalry, 
escorting  a  train  with  twenty  men,  on  the  elev 
enth  of  June,  was  attacked  while  in  corrall  near 
Pawnee  Rock  by  over  one  hundred  Indians,  but 
succeeded  in  dispersing  them  without  loss.  On 
the  same  day  Corporal  Hicks  and  Private  Huestis, 
Company  K,  of  the  Second  Colorado,  while  bear 
ing  dispatches  from  Larned  to  Riley  were  am 
bushed,  killed  and  scalped.  The  body  of  Hicks 
was  horribly  mutilated,  his  head,  hands  and  feet 
being  entirely  severed. 

The  messengers  for  Fort  Dodge,  on  the  tenth, 
were  driven  back  by  eleven  Indians.  On  the 
twelfth,  Fort  Dodge  was  attacked  by  between 


148  HISTORY  OF  THE 

three  and  four  hundred  Indians  and  all  the  mules 
and  horses,  except  eight,  were  driven  off.  Three 
men  were  wounded  and  two  killed  or  captured, 
their  bodies  were  not  found.  A  heavy  fog  pre 
vented  the  discovery  of  the  enemy  until  they  were 
between  the  pickets  and  the  Fort.  William  W. 
Colburn,  of  Company  I,  Second  Colorado,  was 
struck  by  lightning  and  instantly  killed  on  the 
fifteenth,  at  Cow  Creek,  eighteen  miles  east  of 
Fort  Zarah.  He  was  allowing  his  horse  to  graze, 
holding  the  lariat  in  his  hand  at  the  time  of  the 
casualty.  The  horse  was  killed  at  the  same  in 
stant. 

On  the  eleventh  of  June,  Lieutenant  Eichard 
W.  Jenkins,  Second  Colorado  Cavalry,  with  seven 
men  of  the  Second  Colorado  and  Seventh  Iowa 
Cavalry,  while  escorting  the  Mail-coach  from  Cow 
Creek  Station  to  Fort  Zarah,  Kansas,  when  about 
four  miles  from  the  former  station,  was  attacked 
by  more  than  one  hundred  Indians,  who  rushed 
in  upon  him  from  all  sides,  wounding  two  of  his 
men  with  their  lances.  With  his  small  force 
Lieutenant  Jenkins  succeeded  in  keeping  the  Ind 
ians  at  bay  until  the  coach  returned  to  Cow  Creek 
Station  and  re-inforcements  arrived,  with  whom 
Lieutenant  Jenkins  gave  chase  to  the  Indians,  fol 
lowing  them  for  twenty  miles,  crossing  the  Ar 
kansas  River  and  pursuing  them  for  five  miles  on 
the  south  side.  Two  of  the  Indians  were  killed 
when  the  attack  was  first  made  on  the  coach  and 
fifteen  at  the  crossing  of  the  river,  besides  a  num- 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  149 

her  killed  and  wounded  whom  the  Indians  suc 
ceeded  in  carrying  away  with  them.  A  large 
number  of  ponies  were  killed  or  captured,  also  a 
large  amount  of  blankets;  robes",  etc.,  and  the 
enemy's  camp  with  all  its  equipage. 

Lieutenant  Jenkins'  entire  loss  was  two  men 
wounded.  The  names  of  the  men  who  so  valiant 
ly  held  their  ground  were  as  follows  :  Lieutenant 
Jenkins'  Quartermaster,  Sergeant  True,  Privates 
Chaffee,  Daly  and  Heycus,  Company  I,  Second 
Colorado  Cavalry,  and  Cudding,  Platte  and 
Coburn,  Company  G,  Seventh  Iowa  Cavalry. 
Great  credit  was  due  Lieutenant  Jenkins  and 
these  seven  men,  who  displayed  such  coolness 
and  bravery  when  attacked  by  such  unequal 
odds. 

The  Indians  all  the  summer  were  very  persis 
tent  in  their  attempts  to  harrass  the  troops  and 
murder  and  plunder  at  every  opportunity ;  some 
times  in  small  bands  and  then  large  ones.  In 
the  early  Spring  ineffectual  attempts  had  been 
made  to  break  up  and  punish  them,  but  it 
seemed  to  quell  them  only  for  a  short  time. 
Several  scouts  were  made  in  force  for  the 
purpose  of  coming  in  contact  with  them,  but  the 
efforts  proved  unsuccessful  for  some  time  in 
stopping  their  depredations. 

During  these  scouts  the  men  sometimes  suffered 
severely  from  cold  and  the  lack  of  proper  food 
and  sufficient  quantity  of  rations,  and  being 
compelled  to  endure  fatiguing  marches  and  the 


150  HISTORY  OF  THE 

inclement  weather  to  which  the  plains  are  subject 
in  the  Spring  season.  From  the  time  of  their 
enlistment  the  Second  Colorado  had  been  almost 
constantly  in  the  field,  their  duties  had  been  very 
arduous,  and  always  hardest  in  the  Winter  season, 
and  according  to  the  wording  and  intent  of  the 
agreement,  under  which  they  entered  the  service 
of  the  United  States,  they  thought  themselves  held 
illegally,  as  the  Eebel  army  had  surrendered  or 
been  captured  almost  entirely.  The  troops  in  the 
east  and  south  were  returning  home  and  being 
mustered  out;  in  numerous  instances  troops, 
that  had  only  served  a  small  portion  of  their  term, 
were  discharged  as  not  being  considered  a  neces 
sity,  or  under  any  further  obligations  to  the 
Government  as  soldiers,  the  war  being  ended. 
These  considerations  in  connection  with  the  fact 
that  they  who  enlisted  under  the  one  hundred 
dollars  bounty  act,  and  had  nearly  filled  their 
contract  by  hard  service,  were  still  retained, 
while  other  troops  were  receiving  three  hundred 
dollars  bounty  and  being  discharged  the  service 
ere  their  term  was  completed,  created  a  dissatis 
faction  among  the  men  that  was  augmented  by 
the  fruitlessness  of  their  hard  campaign  against 
the  Indians.  The  men,  without  an  exception, 
believed  themselves  entitled  to  their  discharge ; 
and  numerous  contradictory  and  countermanding 
orders,  by  which  they  were  obliged  to  be  governed, 
engendered  the  belief  in  the  minds  of  the  men 
and  great  dissatisfaction  was  the  result. 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  151 

The  following  lines  were  sent  to  the  regiment 
at  that  time  by  the  author  : 

TO  THE  GALLANT  SECOND  COLORADO. 

Chafe  not,  brave  boys,  though  harsh  it  seems 

To  keep  thine  armor  on, 
When  thinking  of  loved  friends  and  home, 

That  ye  have  left  so  long. 

Thy  fame — which  bears  no  darkening  spot — 

Ne'er  let  it  tarnish  now  ! 
No  overt  act  commit,  to  tear 

A  laurel  from  thy  brow. 

Thy  honored  dead,  thy  living  brave, 

O  !  sully  not  their  name  ! 
By  bright  keen  blades,  thy  ready  arms 

Have  won  the  wreath  of  fame. 

A  fame,  a  fame,  which  ne'er  will  die, 

Though  each  brave  heart  may  sleep 
Beneath  the  blooming  flowers  of  earth, 

In  a  cold  bed — and  deep. 

Tire  not !  with  patience  bide  thy  time, 

Thy  heavy  task  is  o'er  ; 
And  thou  may'st,  by  thine  own  fireside, 

Know  all  is  peace  once  more. 

Thy  countless  acts  of  gallant  worth — 

The  glorious  scars  ye  wear — 
Oh  !  mar  not  the  escutcheon  bright 

Ye  well  may  proudly  bear. 

Aye,  proud  !  for  as  time  leaves  its  stamp 

Upon  each  war-worn  brow  ; 
So  will  thy  valor  brighter  shine — 

More  luminous  will  grow, 


152  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Chafe  not,  for  soon  thy  march  will  be 

Home  to  the  loved  and  dear  ; 
The  trophies  of  thy  hard  campaigns, 

Thou,  too,  wilt  carry  there. 

Then  bear  them  yet  a  little  while, 

Nor  mar  thy  glories  won — 
THE  GALLANT  "  SECOND"  NEVER  LEFT 

THEIR  WORK,  TILL  FAIRLY  DONE. 

Some  of  the  officers  and  men  put  forth  every 
effort  to  settle  the  vexed  question  and  have  the 
regiment  mustered  out  of  the  service.  The  matter 
was  represented  at  Department  Headquarters  and 
also  reached  Washington,  and,  about  the  first  of 
May,  an  Order  was  promulgated  for  the  discharge 
of  "Cavalrymen  whose  term  of  service  expired 
prior  to  the  first  of  October,  1865." 

This  had  the  effect  to  partially  quiet  the  agita 
tion  for  the  time,  but  induced  dissatisfaction  in 
regard  to  the  exceptions  in  favor  of  those  whose 
term  of  service  extended  but  a  few  days,  in  many 
instances,  beyond  the  period  mentioned  in  the 
order. 

On  the  twentieth  of  May,  to  the  deep  disap 
pointment  and  increased  unrest  of  the  men  the 
order  was  countermanded  by  General  Dodge,  De 
partment  Commander. 

Shortly  after  the  Order  was  re-promulgated,  a 
District  mustering  rendezvous  established  at  Fort 
Eiley,  and  the  Assistant  Commissaiy  of  Musters 
(Captain  U.  B.  Holloway)  proceeded  to  discharge 
troops  in  accordance  with  instructions  received ; 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  153 

but  it  was  not  until  the  first  of  September  that 
orders  for  mustering  out  the  entire  regiment  were 
received,  and,  on  the  eighth,  the  regiment  left  Fort 
Riley  for  Leavenworth  and  was  mustered  out  of 
service,  in  which  it  faithfully  and  honorably  served, 
on  the  twenty- third  of  September,  1865. 

Weary,  battle-scarred  and  worn  they  clasped 
hands  and  bade  farewell,  some  never  to  meet  again 
on  earth.  The  tear  drop  trembled  on  the  eyelid 
of  many  ;  wounds  on  the  battle-field,  days  of  suf 
fering  in  the  hospital,  and  hair-breadth  escapes, 
had  bound  them  together  as  brothers.  Although 
going  home  to  see  father,  mother,  wife  or  chosen 
ones,  yet  a  sadness  hung  over  that  parting. 


154  HISTORY  OF  THE 


LINES   WRITTEN  BY  THE  AUTHOR,  AT  THE  REQUEST  OF  Co.  "A, 

ON  THE  DEATH  OF  A  COMRADE  AT  FORT  CRAIGGE,  MEXICO. 

He  sleeps  ;  his  brow  is  cold  in  death, 
We've  laid  his  lifeless  form  to  rest, 

In  grave  clothes  he  is  laid  away, 

The  last  kind  hand  his  own  hath  press'd. 

He  sleeps,  and  who  will  bear  the  news, 
The  tidings  sad,  to  friends  at  home, 

Or  will  he  sleep  forever  there, 
Unmourned,  in  that  cold  lonely  tomb. 

A  stranger  in  a  stranger  land, 
His  kindred,  will  they  never  hoar, 

How  he  hath  fought,  and  sickening  died 
Or  how  he  filled  a  soldiers  bier. 

Oh,  cruel  thought,  no  father  dear, 
No  mother's  kiss  upon  that  brow, 

No  brother,  sister,  loved  ones  near, 
And  hath  he  died  uncared  for  now. 

Unwept,  our  comrade  tried  and  true, 
Proved  in  the  battles  dismal  roar, 

Ah  !  no  a  soldier's  heart  is  kind 
As  brother's  love,  they  love  and  more. 

Not  one  dry  eye  gazed  on  that  tomb, 
We  loved  him  he  was  true  and  kind, 

It  cast  a  shadow  o'er  the  camp, 

Each  heart  in  sadness  then  wil't  find. 

He  sleeps,  our  brother  soldier  rests, 
The  trump  of  God  he  next  will  hear, 

And  may  we  answer  to  that  call 
And  meet  our  loving  comrade  there, 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  155 


CHAPTER  XH. 

I  have  endeavored  in  writing  this  history  to  be 
impartial,  and  that  my  readers  may  not  think 
I  have  gone  beyond  the  truth  in  flattering  the 
Second  Regiment,  of  Colorado,  I  will  add  the  re 
cord  as  it  appeared  in  The  Conservative,  a  paper 
published  in  Leavenworth  City,  in  the  Fall  of 
1864,  it  was  headed  "A  Gallant  Regiment"  and 
read  thus : 

"Amid  the  many,  it  seems  almost  invidious 
to  select  the  one  where  all  done  so  well,  it  seems 
unjust  to  make  an  exemplar  of  a  portion.  But 
every  officer  and  soldier  of  the  Kansas  Divi 
sion  of  the  Army  accord  the  highest  meed  of 
praise  for  all  soldierly  qualities  to  the  gallant 
Second  Colorado  Cavalry,  to  its  able  and  valiant 
officers  and  its  capable  commander,  Colonel 
James  H.  Ford.  Our  citizens  were  gratified  by 
the  appearance  of  these  Veteran  Soldiers.  Eight 
companies  of  the  Second  Colorado  arrived  here 
from  Fort  Scott  and  were  received  by  Colonel 
James  H.  Ford,  Majors  Pritchard  and  Curtis  and 
other  gallant  gentlemen.  They  marched  through 
the  streets  of  our  city,  a  pageant  more  imposing 
to  the  thoughtful  observer  than  if,  in  all  the 
fresh  pomp  and  brightness  of  the  camp  or  ren- 


156  HISTORY  OF  THE 

dezvous,  they  were  starting  fresh  for  the  field  of 
duty. 

"  Weapons  soiled  and  battered,  garments  stained 
and  torn,  horses  broken  down  and  lean ;  with 
their  guidons  draggled,  rent  and  stained ;  not  in 
dishonor,  but  proudly  bringing  in  their  tattered 
folds  the  scars  of  triumphal  contest ;  but,  above 
all,  with  the  proof  of  valor  in  the  wounded  heroes 
who,  in  the  ambulance  train,  brought  up  the 
rear ;  all  these  things  gilded  the  show  and  aided 
in  making  the  scene  noteworthy.  The  Second 
Colorado  Cavalry  has  from  the  first  been  in  the 
front  and  borne  the  brunt  of  the  fight.  We  as 
Kansans  will  gratefully  treasure  its  name.  With 
our  own  gallant  boys  it  largely  contributed  to 
preserve  the  State  from  devastation  and  to  keep 
unstained  its  proud  record.  As  Americans  we 
owe  it  even  more.  No  body  of  men  deserve  a 
prouder  place  in  the  Pantheon  which  nations  rear 
over  its  heroes.  In  its  ranks  are  men  from  all 
States,  who,  isolated  among  the  mountains  seek 
ing  wealth  and  carrying  civilization  with  them, 
at  the  first  gun  of  the  Eebellion  sprang  to  arms, 
throwing  away  the  golden  prize,  and  musket  in 
hand  seeking  their  country's  foe.  That  brilliant 
campaign  in  New  Mexico  bears  the  names  of 
a  portion  of  the  Second.  Under  Colonel  Ford  and 
Lieutenant- Colonel  Dodd  (their  Captains)  two 
companies,  A  and  B,  participated  in  the  whole 
of  that  vigorous  conflict  with  the  Texans.  An 
other  portion,  under  Colonel  Dodd,  Lieutenant- 


SECOND  COLORADOS.  157 

Colonel  Curtis  and  the  lamented  Major  Smith, 
constituting  what  was  then  known  as  the  Second 
Colorado  Infantry,  participated  in  that  other 
brilliant  campaign  in  the  Indian  Territory  during 
the  summer  of  1863. 

"  They  were  at  Cabin  Creek  and  afterwards  at 
Honey  Springs,  where  Captain  Green  with  his 
command  captured  the  Flag  of  the  Twenty-ninth 
Texas.  They  marched  to  Perryville  and  after 
wards  occupied  Fort  Smith,  on  the  thirty-first  of 
August,  1863.  The  Second  and  Third  Eegiments 
were  then  consolidated  into  a  Cavalry  organization. 

"  Shortly  afterward  it  was  placed  on  duty  in 
Western  Missouri,  with  headquarters  at  Kansas 
City.  Its  history  is  well  known  for  the  past  year. 
Our  border  has  been  kept  free  from  marauders  by 
its  activity  and  valor,  while  the  murderous  bush 
whackers  have  had  abundant  reason  to  dread  the 
Second  Colorado.  Through  the  past  Summer  it 
has  had  numberless  fights  and  lost  many  gallant 
officers  and  men. 

"  During  the  Paw  Paw  Kebellion,  Colonel  Ford 
was  in  command  of  the  pursuing  force.  At  Cam- 
den  Point  and  elsewhere  the  rebel  Thornton  felt 
their  power. 

"  When  the  invasion  of  Price  aroused  the  border 
to  impending  danger,  the  Second  Colorado  had 
just  been  ordered  to  report  to  this  Department. 
The  Indian  War  had  caused  this  change.  A  por 
tion  of  the  regiment  was  at  Fort  Leavenworth 
when,  on  the  eighteenth  ult. ,  the  proclamation  of 


158  HISTORY  OF  THE 

martial  law  was  prepared.  It  took  the  field  im 
mediately,  and  for  some  days  before  General  Blunt 
moved  toward  Lexington,  Colonel  Ford,  from  In 
dependence,  was  scouring  the  country  thoroughly. 
Major  Smith  entered  and  left  Lexington  the  day 
before  General  Blunt' s  reconnoitering  column. 
From  the  commencement  of  the  campaign  to  the 
wearying  homeward  march  at  its  triumphant 
close,  the  history  of  the  Second  Colorado  is  writ 
ten  in  light.  In  every  fight,  battle  and  skirmish 
the  regiment,  or  some  portion  thereof,  has  been 
engaged. 

"  At  Little  Blue,  where  fell  the  gallant  Smith,  to 
the  stormy  three  hours,  at  Newtonia,  they  have 
borne  themselves  patiently  and  heroically,  like 
the  gallant  soldiers  and  true  patriots  they  are. 
On  the  Big  Blue,  Captain  Green  with  his  famous 
gray -horse  squadron  was  engaged  with  a  body  of 
rebel  cavalry  that  had  taken  the  main  Kansas 
City  Road  instead  of  the  one  at  Byron's  Ford,  by 
which  our  position  was  flanked.  It  was  Captain 
Green,  with  the  Second  Colorado,  who  opened 
the  ball  on  Sunday  morning  at  Westport — a  day 
ever  memorable  to  Kansas,  as  its  glorious  results 
saved  our  State. 

"  At  the  Trading  Post  its  gray -horse  squadron 
with  one  other  (the  Battalion  under  Captain 
Kingsbury)  as  the  advance,  fired  the  last  shot 
on  the  evening  of  the  twenty-fourth,  and  the  first 
one  which,  long  before  dawn,  welcomed  in  that 
victorious  twenty-fifth  of  October. 


SECOND   COLORADOS.  159 

"  Companies  E,  I  and  K,  led  by  Captain  Kings- 
bury,  under  the  direction  of  Major  Hunt  and 
Captain  Hinton,  staff-officers  of  Generals  Curtis 
and  Blunt,  opened  the  ball  at  the  Trading  Post 
at  four  A.  M.,  of  October  the  twenty-fifth,  by 
driving  in  the  enemy's  picket.  It  was  this  early 
movement  that  saved  Fort  Scott,  for  had  not  the 
advance  of  the  first  Division  thus  driven  in  the 
enemy's  rear  guard  the  battle  would  not  have 
been  opened  by  General  Sanborn  for  two  hours 
later  and  the  enemy  would  have  reached  Fort 
Scott.  The  same  gallant  squadrons  were  fore 
most  in  the  charge  upon  the  enemy's  guns  in  the 
bottom  beyond  the  Trading  Post,  the  second  of  a 
series  of  fights  that  marked  that  day  on  the 
Marias  des  Cygnes  and  Osage..  They  participated 
in  the  brilliant  cavalry  charge  at  Mine  Creek, 
which  resulted  in  the  capture  of  Marmaduke, 
Cabell,  seven  guns  and  a  large  body  of  prisoners. 
At  Newtonia  the  Second  Colorado,  under  Major 
Pritchard,  with  the  Sixteenth  Kansas,  under 
Major  Ketner,  were  first  in  the  fight.  In  that 
battle,  so  brilliantly  audacious,  they  largely 
contributed  to  the  splendid  result. 

"  Forming  a  part  of  the  nine  hundred,  who  faced 
ten  times  their  number,  they  stubbornly  flung 
themselves  against  the  foe,  and  for  hours  stood 
like  a  rock  unyielding  against  the  storm  of 
bullets  and  the  hurling  tide  of  battle  which 
fiercely  dashed  against  our  meagre  lines,  until  the 
arrival  of  General  Sanborn  made  certain  the 


160  HISTORY  OF  THE 

victory  which  had  already  gleamed  about  us. 
All  honor  to  the  gallant  Colorado  Volunteers, 
say  we.  We  welcome  them  to  our  city,  scarred 
and  battle-worn  heroes,  as  they  are,  and  are  only 
too  proud  to,  in  the  same  slight  manner,  acknowl 
edge  the  great  service  we  owe  them." 

There  is  very  much,  no  doubt,  that  could  have 
been  told  of  the  different  encounters  between  the 
Second  and  the  enemy,  but  as  it  was  impossible 
to  follow  in  their  circuitous  track  at  all  times, 
I  have  endeavored  to  make  this  history  as  inter 
esting  as  I  could  with  such  information  as  I  could 
gain  from  time  to  time  in  my  travels,  therewith 
trusting  it  will  give  pleasure  to  any  one  who  may 
deem  it  worth  perusal. 

More  especially  so  to  any  Colorado  soldier  or 
their  offspring.  I  will  here  add  the  rosters  of  the 
different  companies  as  it  may  be  interesting  to 
the  readers  at  some  time  or  in  some  place,  bring 
ing  to  mind  the  name  of  a  comrade  when  perhaps 
forgotten. 


SECOND  COLORADOS. 


161 


LIST  OF  OFFICERS  OF  THE  REGIMENT. 
Field  and  Staff. 


Colonel — 

James  H.  Ford. 

Lieutenant-  Colonel — 

Theo.  H.  Dodd. 
First  Major— 

S.  S.  Curtis. 
Second  Major — 

J.  N.  Smith. 

Third  Major— 

J.  L.  Pritchard. 

Surgeon — 

I.  J.  Pollok. 
Assistant  Surgeons — 

Geo.  S.  Aiken, 

D.  M.  Vance. 

Adjutant — 

R.  S.  Roe. 
Quartermaster — 

G.  C.  Manville. 
Commissary — 

James  Burrell. 
Chaplain — 

L.  Hamilton. 
Captains — 

Co.  B— J.  C.  W.  Hall, 
«    E— W.  H.  Green, 
"    F— George  West, 
"    G— E.  D.  Boyd, 


Captains — 

Co.   I— E.  W.  Kingsbury, 
"   K— E.  P.  Elmer, 
"    L— G.  G.  Norton, 
"   M — Thomas  Moses, 
"    H— Charles  Holly, 
"    C— Cyrus  DeForest, 
"    A— I.  F.  Evans, 
"    D— E.  L.  Berthuod. 

First  Lieutenants — 

Co.  C — J.  F.  Seymour, 
"  G — F.  A.  Spencer, 
"  D— William  Wise, 
*"  H— J.  F.Bennet, 
"    I— R.  W.  Jenkins, 
"  L— U.  R  Hollo  way, 
"  K — George  F.  Crocker, 
"  M— Win.  H.  Pierce, 
"  A— A.  G.  Clark, 
«  F— W.  H.  Keith, 
"  B — Jas.  Parsons, 
"  E— R.  O.  Rizer. 

Second  Lieutenants — 

Co.  F— G.  M.  Richardson, 
"    G— J.  E.  Tappan, 
"  K— I.  J.  Stanton, 
"    L — J.  Cleaveland, 
"  M— G.  C.  Bo  wen, 
"   B— H.  D.  Jaynes, 
"  H— A.  L.  Gooding, 
"  C— M.  Hennion, 
"    I— C.  A.  Allen, 
"  E— G.  W.  Culver, 
"  D— F.  M.  Gravitt, 
"  A— P.  A.  Ducey. 


162 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


Roster  of  Company   "A.: 


Captain — 

Isaac  F.  Evans. 

First  Lieutenant- 
Albert  G.  Clark, 

Second  Lieutenant- 
Patrick  A.  Ducey. 

First  Sergeant — 
Evan  Jones. 

Quartermaster  Sergeant- 
George  W.  Howard. 

Commissary  Sergeant — 
Alex  H.  Reed. 

Sergeants — 

William  Cook, 
Jacob  Sinex, 
Alex  M.  Staley, 
John  Bay. 

Corporals — 

Steven  H.  Warner, 
James  Bremner, 
S.  S.  Kempton, 
Geo.  W.  Hardwick, 
JohnM.  Gavran. 

Buglers — 

Charles  Williams, 
J.  W.  Shiffler. 

Farrier — 

Luther  C.  Britton. 

Blacksmith- 
John  C.  Dewitt. 

Saddler- 
Joseph  K.  Fedrick. 

Privates — 

William  A.  Aurner. 
Fayett  Alferd, 
Joshua  Armstrong", 


Privates — 

Francis  H.  Bengley, 
Levi  Benedict, 
John  Burns, 
Wilson  P.  Burgasen, 
Charles  Bernard, 
William  Cox, 
Augustus  R.  Cox, 
Benjamin  F.  Carter, 

Lewis  Chesser, 

Thomas  Carroll, 

Thomas  Connelly, 

John  Dwyre, 

Willis  Ellis, 

Lewis  Ellis, 

Bartlet  N.  Fox, 

John  Freel, 

William  Gibbs, 

David  Gharky, 

Benjamin  Graham, 

Joseph  Gerish, 

Henry  Gillapp, 

Thomas  Hodges, 

Chislian  Herbacker, 

William  Hayes, 

William  C.  Hadleig-h, 

John  H.  Haskins, 

John  Hall, 
Adolphus  Ingham, 

John  Kerrins, 

Thomas  Kollar, 
John  Kaineron, 

Ezra  Lamb, 
Robert  V.  Lauder, 
Daniel  Maher, 
Nelson  McNeil, 
Alexander  Maxwell, 
Thomas  McFadden, 
Lindsay  Mullinex, 
Patrick  McGinnis, 
Bartholemew  McDonough 
William  Murphy, 
Andrew  Ohler, 
John  O'Brien, 
John  Pillow, 


SECOND  COLORADOS. 


163 


Privates — 

George  W.  Prosser, 
Thomas  Ramsay, 
Michael  J.  Rogers, 
William  H.  Rosson, 
John  Rosson. 
Alfred  G.  Romine, 
William  W.  Sugg, 
David  A.  Stevens, 
Abraham  Sh idler, 
Thomas  J.  Sherod, 
William  H.  Shaw, 


Privates — 

John  C.  Scott, 
William  S.  Trow, 
Dennis  Tierney, 
Joshua  Taylor, 
James  F.  Ulm, 
Thomas  J.  Walls, 
John  Worrald, 
George  W.  Wicks, 
Peter  Wells, 
George  L.  Yant, 
John  K.  Zoutsler. 


Eoster  of  Company   "B. 


Captain— 

J.  C.  W.  Hall, 

First  Lieutenant — 

James  Parsons. 
Second  Lieutenant — 

Henry  D.  Jaynes. 
First  Sergeant — 

William  F.  Kenton. 
Quartermaster  Sergeant — 

Sydenham  Mills. 
Commissary  Sergeant — 

Andrew  H.  Grover. 
Sergeants — 

William  H.  Anderson, 

Nathan  H.  Hopkins, 

Martin  D.  Prentiss, 

William  Glasgow, 

Garrett  Feinan. 

Corporals — 

Edwin  H.  Sanford, 
William  W.  Hodges, 
Samuel  Westerfield, 
Joseph  Mackrell, 
Edwin  P.  Robinson, 
Archibald  Cribbs, 


Corporals — 

Uriah  Simpson, 
Michael  Beacom. 

Privates — 

Horatio  Allen, 
Thomas  Anderson, 
Chauncey  W.  Amey, 
John  W.  Ames, 
Charles  Arnold, 
Comadore  S.  Brown, 
Alexander  Brown, 
Harrison  Berry, 
John  Branch, 
Thomas  Briggs, 
Marcus  T.  Basset, 
Alden  G.  Gate, 
William  H.  Conklin, 
James  H.  Custard, 
Elisha  Dewes, 
Josiah  M.  Day, 
Abram  R.  Daman, 
William  Emihizer, 
Sylvester  Gilson, 
Simeon  Haynes, 
Charles  Hitchburn, 
Hiram  Hawkins, 
Alonzo  F.  Ickis, 
William  W.  Johnson, 
Justis  B.  Lloyd, 
James  H.  Lykins, 


164  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Privates —  Privates — 

Ezra  J.  Lee,  William  D.  Withington, 

Josiah  P.  Lesher,  Robert  D.  Alexander, 

Curtis  Moore,  Robert  Badley, 

Simon  Motz,  John  C.  Bo  wen, 

John  Morrison,  Georg'e  Bryan, 

Hugh  Marshall,  Lafayette  Coi'man, 

Samuel  Pickler,  George  A.  Cook, 

Thomas  Payne,  William  Carley, 

Josiah  Porter,  Samuel  Gastland, 

Ludlo  H.  Pruden,  William  Emans, 

George  Simpson,  Henry  Estes, 

Joseph  M.  W.  Smith,  William  Fulbright, 

Amos  N.  Sylvester,  Giles  Gadard, 

David  Speilman.  James  A.  Holmes, 

Andrew  Thomson,  Jacob  Martin, 

John  G.  Thompson,  Henry  Mateson, 

Harvey  W.  Thomas,  Benjamin  F.  Nicholas, 

Joseph  J.  Thomas,  Abijah  H.  Norris, 

Seymour  S.  Vaughn,  Charles  L.  Richardson, 

George  Williams,  James  K.  Scott, 

James  B.  Wasson,  Evan  P.  Shrivel, 

Jerome  B.  Wright,  Joseph  Wizer, 

John  M.  Weaver,  William  H.  Wilson. 


Eoster  of  Company   "C." 

Captain —  Sergeants — 

Cyrus  H.  DeForest.  Charles  E.  Holder, 

First  Lieutenant-  Benjamin  F.  Chesrown. 

J.  Fenton  Seymour.  Corporals— 

Second  Lieutenant-  3SSS 

Martin  Hennion.  Charles  H.  Zuther, 

First  Sergeant—  James  TE-  McNaughton, 

James  M.  Grove,  &^SSBr. 

Quartermaster  Sergeant-  Blacksmith- 
Chiles  W.  Burdsal.  Thomas  E.  Ragsdale. 

Commissary  Sergeant—  Saddler— 

William  Ogden.  Daniel  McDonnald. 

Sergeants—  Privates— 

Samuel  Peppard,  George  Ashworth, 

Delos.  W.  Babcock,  Thomas  Brown, 


SECOND  COLORADOS. 


165 


Privates — 


Privates- 


Noah  F.  Brown, 
Edward  Bard, 
John  Brooks, 
James  A.  Caldvvell, 
James  T.  Cully, 
William  Chase, 
And.  Clark, 
Francis  Cooper, 
Bernard  C.  Click, 
William  Dilley, 
Dennis  M.  Dickenow, 
Oliver  E.  Dalton, 
James.  H.  Dagner, 
Silas  N.  Button, 
Richard  W.  Evans, 
Henry  A.  Evans, 
William  Fredericks, 
Le  Grande  Gould, 
Daniel  M.  Goodley, 
William  A.  Hunter, 
James  A.  Humphrey, 
Alfred  N.  Henry, 
Thomas  C.  Haller, 
William  Howard, 
Georg-e  W.  Hill, 
Andrew  L.  Ingerson, 
Edward  Johnson, 
Joseph  Kenestrick, 
John  C.  Kelly, 
David  La  Belle, 
Napoleon  La  Belle, 


Abel  Lumbert, 
Allen  P.  Leggitt, 
John  W.  Long, 
Thomas  McDermott, 
John  S.  Mount, 
John  W.  Mattock, 
John  McNight, 
William  B.  Ogg, 
John  Oberon, 
George  Putnam, 
Theophilos  C.  Power, 
Joseph  Richardson, 
Charles  Robinson, 
James  B.  Rice, 
William  P.  Records, 
Daniel  Sullivan, 
Albert  H.  Smart, 
Gordon  C.  Smart, 
William  Smith, 
John  Smith, 
Edward  Tracey, 
William  Terney, 
Ulysses  E.  Thurmond, 
James  W.  Thomas, 
John  A.  Wagner, 
James  R.  White, 
William  Wolf, 
Tabor  Wilcox, 
Jacob  A.  Woodmancy, 
Daniel  J.  Zent. 


Roster  of  Company   "D." 


Captain — 

Edward  L.  Berthand. 

First  Lieutenant — 
William  Wise. 

Second  Lieutenant — 
Francis  M.  Gravit. 

First  Sergeant — 
Anton  Freeze. 


Quartermaster  Sergeant- 
William  G.  Pell. 

Commissary  Sergeant — 
Henry  H.  Lyon. 

Sergeants — 

William  J.  Phillips, 
Henry  J.  Tibbitts, 
Morgan  Knight, 
John  T.  Phillips. 


166 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


Corporals — 

Walter  H.  Shade, 
William  H.  Latshaw, 
Francis  M.  Gordon, 
Henry  Ernst, 
William  C.  Teas, 
Alvin  S.  Carpenter, 
Michael  B.  Greaff. 

Buglers — 

George  W.  Hobbs, 
James  Garrison. 

Clerk- 
John  C.  Northrup. 

Farrier — 

William  Garlach. 

Blacksmith — 

Jackson  Newkirk. 

Saddler— 

James  Douglass. 

Privates — 

Joseph  P.  Abert, 
Philip  Achey, 
Isaac  W.  Bailey, 
William  H.  Butch, 
George  S.  Bronson, 
Josiah  Bacher, 
Nathaniel  Brooks, 
Talbot  J.  Bullock, 
Eben  Baird, 
John  W.  Bowen, 
Thomas  Older, 
George  M.  Chase, 
Thomas  Conley. 
George  B.  Cooley, 
Horace  C.  Cartwright, 
Algernon  S.  Button, 
George  M.  Douglass, 
Abel  F.  Douglass, 
Charles  Elder, 
David  M.  Emery, 
William  H.  Easly, 
William  Irwin, 
Abraham  Foust, 
Albert  O.  Griggs, 
John  Geil, 


Privates — 


Aaron  Humphrey, 
John  C.  Hicks, 
James  W.  Hicks, 
Aquila  Hicks, 
John  Hotchkiss, 
Cyrus  Hiltibidle, 
Charles  Hedinger, 
Charles  R.  Jones, 
Alva  A.  Keeler, 
Irvin  Knowlton, 
Christian  Lange, 
Alphonse  H.  Lawrence, 
Otto  Lamprecht, 
William  H.  Ma  thews, 
Patrick  H.  Mills, 
Thomas  Morton, 
John  Morris, 
David  Mclntosh, 
Wm.  M.  McConnell, 
Robert  McCorkill, 
Isaiah  McDowell, 
James  Mclsaacs, 
Morton  O.  Marvin, 
Nathaniel  E.  Nobles, 
Andrew  J.  Phillips, 
Robert  Pointer, 
Leonard  H.  Randall, 
George  W.  Ross, 
Homer  E.  Ramsbury, 
En  os  South  wick, 
Anson  B.  South  wick, 
Andrew  M.  Smith, 
Alfred  P.  Smith, 
Samuel  Siloy, 
William  H.  Snider, 
Charles  M.  Sprague, 
James  R.  Spencer, 
Isaac  D.  Sibley, 
David  Shanks, 
Lewis  Trimble, 
Charles  C.  Toomer, 
Thomas  F.  Weaver, 
Lewis  A.  Waif, 
Jasper  M.  Wagner, 
Andrew  J.  West, 
Isaiah  A.  White, 
Frank  C.  Wright. 


SECOND  COLOR  ADOS. 


167 


Roster  of  Company  "E" 


Captain — 

W.  H.  Green. 

First  Lieutenant — 
Robert  O.  Rizer. 

Second  Lieutenant — 
George  W.  Culver. 

First  Sergeant— 
Ezra  Hoag. 

Quartermaster  Sergeant- 
John  R.  Adams. 

Commissary  Sergeant — 
John  L.  Keutner. 

Sergeants — 

Wm.  Lockstone, 
David  C.  Nettleton, 
Wm.  P.  Shockley, 
Henry  Clark, 
Henry  Coy. 

Corporals — 

Oliver  Howard 
James  Fulsom, 
Philip  Hayes, 
Charles  Pickard, 
William  G.  Dunn. 

Saddler 

Lewis  Hoffman. 

Buglers — 

Henry  Neymeyer, 
Thomas  Willey. 

Farrier — 

Isaac  Hannah. 

Privates — 

Elisha  Andrews, 
William  H.  Ashton, 
Thomas  Asquith, 
William  Brown, 


Privates — 

John  Baker, 
Horatio  Banning, 
Charles  W.  Chealey, 
Stephen  Culbertson, 
Stephen  Conroy, 
Daniel  M.  Clark, 
Joseph  Creely, 
Aureu  L.  Crane, 
John  Cain, 
William  Cummins, 
Oscar  F.  Eddy, 
John  E.  Finney, 
Eugene  Flint, 
Joseph  P.  Gard, 
A.  L.  Glen, 
Julius  Garranflo, 
Thomas  Gray, 
Lyman  Graves, 
Marshall  T.  Hayward, 
Thomas  Harrington, 
Mathias  D.  Huston, 
Charles  H.  Hannam, 
John  Hegitswheler, 
John  H.  G.  Holmes, 
George  F.  Havens, 
Daniel  V.  Hubbard, 
Luther  C.  Horr, 
Jonathan  Ingram, 
James  Iker, 
John  Jennings, 
James  T.  Kelso, 
John  Kessinger, 
Edward  Kyle, 
Frank  Lusher, 
Justus  Leslie, 
Henry  Leis, 
James  H.  Morrison, 
Patrick  McDonough, 
Daniel  McCleery, 
John  McDonald, 
Jacob  L.  Nickam, 
John  W.  Olingemach, 
Robert  Riley, 
Norman  Reynolds, 


168 


HISTORY   OF  THE 


Privates — 


Peter  Robertson, 
Geo.  W.  Richardson, 
James  B.  Ross, 
John  Stone, 
George  Spencer, 
Benjamin  F.  Sherod, 
Samuel  E.  Smith, 
William  Simpson, 
John  Simpson, 
John  M.  Shore, 
F.  J.  Smith, 
Walter  B.  Tillotson, 
John  Walker, 


Privates — 

William  Walker, 
Charles  B.  Withrow, 
George  Wett, 
John  W.  Bailey, 
Israel  Eaton, 
John  S.  Graham, 
Stephen  Higley, 
George  A.  Putnam, 
Palmer  Tiffany, 
Charles  Turner. 

Regimental  Armorer — 
Wm.  Weisner. 


Roster  of  Company   "F." 


Captain— 

George  West. 
First  Lieutenant — 

M.  H.  Keith. 
Second  Lieutenant — 

George  H.  Richardson. 

First  Sergeant — 

N.  B.  McMannaman. 

Quartermaster  Sergeant — 
William  B.  Gillispie. 

Commissary  Sergeant — 
Luther  K.  Crane. 

Sergeants — 

Moses  S.  Strew, 
Benjamin  E.  Gump, 
Robert  S.  West, 
John  Saet, 
William  W.  Babbit. 

Corporals — 

John  M.  Collier, 
William  Neeley, 
William  Kirabal, 
Martin  V.  Wilder, 


Corporals — 

Oliver  D.  Holliday, 
Levi  S.  McGrew, 
Abbott  W.  Sanderson, 
William  Gorgas. 

Buglers — 

John  C.  Barteolett, 
John  F.  McCleery. 

Farrier — 

Thomas  Hunter. 
Blacksmith — 

C.  B.  Reynolds. 
Saddler— 

William  S.  Flanegan. 
Privates — 

Roderick  Allen, 

John  Aull, 

James  Beasley, 

Philip  Beemer, 

Joseph  Bennett, 

Charles  Baker, 

Theo.  B.  Berch, 

Robert  P.  Bobst, 

Morton  Bristol, 

George  Brundy, 


SECOND  COLORADOS. 


169 


Privates — 


Privates — 


Joseph  Bosley, 
Alexander  Campbell, 
Richard  Cheney, 
Amos  Darraw, 
Andrew  H.  Dennis, 
Isaac  W.  Denton, 
George  Elliott, 
Charles  Elgen, 
Joseph  S.  Feilds, 
Thomas  Flemming, 
Frank  Ferrell, 
Ernest  Carl  Frank, 
John  E.  Greene, 
John  Groce, 
William  Hart, 
Alexander  Hamilton, 
John  B.  Huggins, 
James  R.  Hunter, 
Elijah  Hurst, 
Jacob  Jarrett, 
Daniel  Keely, 
John  Kieef, 
Joseph  M.  Kelly, 
William  Kinner, 
William  H.  Kimble, 
William  H.  Latham, 


Charles  Lochman, 
James  I.  Martin,' 
William  Marshall, 
John  McCardle, 
John  H.  Mahler, 
Arthur  McClure, 
George  McCrillis, 
William  McMakin, 
Daniel  Muffitt, 
William  Nichols, 
Henry  L.  Neimon. 
George  O'Brian, 
William  H.  Pruett, 
William  Patterson, 
Edward  Riley, 
Andrew  J.  Stacy, 
Adna  Stephens, 
James  Smith, 
Silas  P.  Sutton, 
Henry  A.  Tortat, 
John  Teeter, 
John  Tummons, 
Stagg-  C.  Thompson, 
Hans  Wulff, 
Edward  L.  Young, 
Felders  M.  Young. 


Roster  of  Company   U6r." 


Captain — 

E.  D.  Boyd. 
First  Lieutenant — 

Fred.  A.  Spencer. 
Second  Lieutenant — 

John  S.  Tappan. 
First  Sergeant — 

Enos  R.  Lee. 
Quartermaster  Sergeant — 

Aylmer  Keith. 
Commissary  Sergeant — 

Charles  M.  Lewis. 


Sergeants — 

William  B.  Hawk, 
George  W.  Lane, 
Patrick  McCristal. 
Chapin  S.  Fay, 
James  G.  Mygatt. 

Corporals — 

Joseph  A.  Shaw, 
John  A.  Mulholland, 
David  H.  Bradford, 
David  La  Rue, 
Dennis  S.  Langton, 
John  Lent, 
George  G.  Selleg. 


170 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


Farrier — 

John  D.  James. 

Saddler— 

Thomas  Gleason. 

Buglers — 

Benjamin  F.  Spillars, 
Owen  O.  Johnston. 

Privates — 

Henry  M.  Arnold, 
Henry  F.  Atherton, 
Walter  Atkins, 
Francis  M.  Brownfield, 
Dwight  A.  Ball, 
John  Boyer, 
Andrew  Bradford, 
John  Braithwaite, 
Joseph  M.  Butcher, 
Molden  Bledsoe, 
Jefferson  Campbell, 
Stewart  Campbell, 
Alva  Chamberlaine, 
John  Chittick, 
Joseph  Cody, 
William  S.  Conner, 
Frederick  Davis, 
James  T.  Donohoe, 
Patrick  H.  Donohoe, 
Charles  Dougherty, 
Morton  W.  Elsworth, 
August  Engleman, 
David  Fowler, 
Chester  F.  Fowler. 
John  Freestone, 
Harry  Galbransen, 
John  Grazier, 


Privates — 

Jesse  Hendricks, 
Cornelius  M.  Johnson, 
Edward  A.  Jones, 
James  Keen, 
John  La  Belle, 
John  Lacy, 

Elyeer  S.  I.  La  Fontaine, 
Samuel  H.  Lemmon, 
Henry  Livingston, 
John  Loughry, 
Alexander  E.  Love, 
James  McDowell, 
James  H.  McVay, 
Moses  Miles, 
James  A.  Mitchel, 
William  T.  Morehead, 
Henry  E.  Oates, 
James  Orton, 
George  W.  Perkins, 
Alfred  Pyzer, 
Edward  Rhoades. 
Luther  A.  Rogers, 
Jesse  Riley, 
John  Rottm  aster, 
Marquis  D.  Salisbury, 
Wm.  H.  Self, 
Wm.  Smith, 
Charles  Sovereign, 
William  Spencer, 
David  Stewart, 
Mortimer  Stone, 
Caleb  G.  Thorp, 
Peter  Vandermade, 
Jefferson  Waltea, 
William  White, 
WiUiam  Williams, 
John  D.  Young. 


Rosier  of  Company   "H." 


Captain — 

Charles  F.  Holly. 
First  Lieutenant — 

James  F.  Bennett. 


Second  Lieutenant — 
Albert  L.  Gooding. 

First  Sergeant — 
B.  F.  Johnston. 


SECOND  COLORADOS. 


171 


Quartermaster  Sergeant — 
Augustus  Frederick. 

Commissary  Sergeant — 
Edward  P.  Davis. 

Sergeants — 

George  H.  Goodwin, 
John  M.  Moore, 
Thomas  Hooper, 
Ebenezer  Jones, 
Daniel  R.  Wagstaff. 

Corporals — 

Samuel  P.  Hatter, 
Andrew  B.  Budd, 
Clark  C.  Martin, 
C.  A.  Schilowsky, 
Hiram  C.  Olmstead, 
Joseph  Colt, 
Levi  Hill, 
John  Pendroy. 

Buglers — 

John  W.  Torrence, 
Levi  Allen. 

Saddler— 

Eugene  B.  Palmer. 

Farrier — 

Jordon  Scott. 

Blacksmith — 
Joseph  Kuhn, 

Clerk— 

C.  L.  Moore. 

Privates — 

George  Ammel, 
William  H.  Allen, 
John  Bair, 
William  Bentley, 
William  S.  Buck  waiter, 
John  N.  Bond. 
Fernando  L.  Bradley, 
Henry  S.  Bank, 
Benjamin  B.  Bates, 
John  H.  Coleman, 


Privates — 

John  Carrothers, 
Dyer  A.  Conklin, 
Bartholomew  Cole, 
Samuel  D.  Cowdez, 
Thomas  Carlson, 
Robert  E.  Constant, 
James  L.  Craft, 
Joel  W.  Disbrow, 
Francis  A.  Drullard, 
Noah  H.  Eaves, 
John  W.  Foot, 
Rensaler  Falkner, 
Friend  S.  Gale. 
Alexander  Hamilton, 
William  H.  Hewitt, 
Benton  S.  Harbeur, 
Levi  L.  Hughes, 
William  H.  Hopkins, 
Francis  G.  Havens, 
William  W.  Jones, 
Charles  Jirman, 
John  Johnstone, 
Edward  F.  King-land, 
John  W.  Kelso, 
Edwin  R.  Knight, 
Albert  Koenig, 
James  Karr, 
Orlean  H.  Lomiss, 
Henry  F.  Lentz, 
Stephen  B.  Layburn, 
Edward  Metcalf, 
William  McBride, 
Michael  McKinney, 
Alexander  McMasters, 
Thomas  D.  McLain, 
David  S.  Miller, 
Jesse  H.  Northrup, 
William  W.  Northrup, 
William  F.  Newkirk, 
Elisha  P.  Plummer, 
James  W.  Purdy, 
Richard  H.  Quin, 
Christian  W.  Ries, 
James  Ragen, 
Benjamin  F.  Rafferty, 
Henry  Steiner, 
David  B.  Sweep, 


172 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


Privates— 

John  E.  Sawyer, 
John  J.  Shultz, 
Henry  Schoepile, 
John  Sykes, 
William  E.  Stubbs, 
William  Tomkins, 


Privates — 

Orville  Talbott, 
Jacob  H.  Valentine, 
Oliver  V.  Wallace, 
Elisha  T.  Weaver, 
Luther  C.  Woodward. 


Roster  of  Company  "I." 


Captain — 

Ezra  W.  Kingsbury. 
First  Lieutenant — 

Richard  W.  Jenkins. 

Second  Lieutenant — 
Charles  A.  Allen. 

First  Sergeant — 

Samuel  S.  Ferree. 

Quartermaster  Sergeant — 
Charles  C.  True. 

Commissary  Sergeant — 

Edward  S.  Hoole. 
Sergeants — 

Theophilus  Taylor, 

Walter  Bown, 

Charles  G.  Lawrence, 

Miles  Jain. 

Corporals — 

George  Croak, 
Nathaniel  G.  Plummer, 
Uri  L.  Peck, 
Freeman  Belcher, 
Hamilton  C.  Martin, 
Joseph  N.  Steward, 
Joshua  H.  Cook, 
Royal  P.  Haven. 

Buglers — 

Godfrey  Ulrich, 
Walter  H.  Wilson. 


Blacksmith — 

Thoma  Mohan. 

Privates — 

Jacob  Bard, 
Robert  Barr, 
Andrew  Branson, 
Sylvanus  Budd, 
William  Beck, 
Lafayette  Bailey, 
Milo  Brewster, 
John  Barnes, 
Adolph  Black, 
William  H.  Cook, 
David  W.  Critzer, 
William  W.  Colburne, 
Palmer  K.  A.  Chaffee, 
Marcus  Cooper, 
Silas  Clark, 
Lester  S.  Case, 
John  M.  Coleman, 
James  H.  Coulter, 
Oscar  M.  Cady, 
John  Donaldson, 
Thomas  Dunn, 
Martin  P.  Daily, 
Royal  Denison, 
Charles  Emmons, 
John  Evans, 
James  M.  Eaman, 
William  H.  Fee, 
David  C.  Frame, 
James  M.  Frame, 
Daniel  Gift, 
William  D.  Gross, 
John  S.  Granger, 


SECOND  COLORADOS. 


Privates — 


Privates — 


George  Golden, 
George  F.  Greenup, 
Alexander  Harvell, 
Charles  F.  Heycus, 
William  H.  Heycus, 
Samuel  Holbrook, 
Charles  Hathaway, 
Jacob  S.  Kehler, 
John  King, 
John  Kensler, 
Samuel  Knox, 
David  A.  Lykins, 
Charles  H.  Lewis, 
William  A.  Lawrence, 
Enos  McLaughlin, 
Andrew  Moore, 
Robert  W.  Moffitt, 
Andrew  Munsch, 
Joseph  Oumer, 


Anson  W.  Peters, 
George  Palsgraf, 
Daniel  Preffer, 
Rufus  Rice, 
Aaron  Runyan, 
James  F.  Rowe, 
Patrick  Sullivan, 
George  Shirley, 
John  W.  Taffee, 
Thomas  Taylor, 
Elliott  C.  Tuttle, 
William  Templeton, 
John  W.  Vaughan, 
Jame  Wood, 
Henry  Whitmore, 
Cornelius  W.  Wright, 
Thomas  Webb, 
Thomas  M.  Walker. 


Roster  of  Company   "K." 


Captain — 

E.  P.  Elmer. 

First  Lieutenant — 
George  F.  Crocker. 

Second  Lieutenant — 
B.  F.  Johnson. 

Quartermaster  Sergeant — 
James  T.  Clark. 

Commissary  Sergeant — 
Austin  H.  Weir. 

Sergeants — 

Jeremiah  H.  Coney, 
Jesse  Knight, 
James  H.  Stocker. 

Corporals — 

John  S.  Harper, 
Lewis  Coleman, 
Joseph  N.  Dodson, 


Corporals — 

Andrew  A.  Burk, 
John  M.  Wilkerson, 
William  A.  Fortune, 
Charles  Edwards, 
Henry  H.  Lacy. 

Farrier — 

Henderson  Roy. 

Saddler— 

William  J.  Barnes. 

Bugler — 

William  H.  Carroll. 

Privates — 

George  W.  Black, 
Squire  B.  Bosworth, 
Adoniram  J.  Bowen. 
Samuel  P.  Butler, 
James  Campbell, 
Wilson  Cooley, 
Peter  Cummings, 


174 


HISTORY   OF  THE 


Privates — 

William  H.  Derickson, 
George  W.  Dickerson, 
Charles  W.  Dorwin, 
James  M.  Duncan, 
John  H.  Fortune, 
Charles  W.  Gorsuch, 
Refus  H.  Heath, 
Horatio  F.  Heald, 
Peter  Heintz, 
William  H.  Houck, 
Samuel  J.  Huestis, 
Alexander  Hughes, 
Charles  H.  Hughes, 
James  B.  Hayles, 
William  H.  Hogan, 
Joseph  Hays, 
George  M.  Hicks, 
Monroe  James, 
Laurens  H.  Johnston, 
Williams  C.  Kellogg, 
Albert  O.  Locke, 
John  A.  Lowe, 
Thomas  B.  Lane, 
James  Loak, 
Levi  McLaughlin, 
Peter  J.  McMartin, 
Gerhard  Hermann, 


Privates — 


Seth  R.  Mills, 
Thomas  B.  Morton, 
Joseph  Maier, 
Hans  Mundt, 
William  McConnor, 
Rody  McSorley, 
Horace  H.  Norton, 
Horace  Norton, 
Aaron  Nyswanger, 
Asa  F.  Powers, 
Morris  Peck, 
Michael  H.  Reece, 
John  F.  Rigney, 
Alonzo  G.  Russell, 
Milford  H.  Sanders, 
Erastus  B.  Smith, 
Stephen  Slaughter, 
John  Straley, 
Joseph  H.  Sanborn, 
Thomas  Tracey, 
William  Tabor, 
John  A.  Washburn, 
Joseph  Wells, 
Joseph  Wetherill, 
Thomas  B.  Williams, 
John  Williams, 
Walter  Weston. 


Eoster  of  Company  "  L" 


Captain — 

Uriah  B.  Holloway. 
First  Lieutenant — 

Irving  W.  Stanton. 
Second  Lieutenant — 

James  S.  Cleveland. 
First  Sergeant — 

Carmi  B.  Vaughn. 
Quartermaster  Sergeant — 

Alfred  A.  Waggoner. 
Commissary  Sergeant — 

Christopher  S.  Philipps. 


Sergeants — 

John  B.  Rupe, 
Henry  Brown, 
Samuel  W.  Fitzgerald, 
Norman  Parker, 
Montgomery  Wisner. 

Corporals — 

Allen  J.  Davis, 
Robert  H.  Dunlap, 
William  K.  Anthony, 
William  H.  Hardy, 
John  Bremner, 
Rufus  B.  Edwards, 
Egbert  R.  Wills, 
Charles  Thorow. 


SECOND   COLORADOS. 


175 


Buglei 

George  W.  Albright, 
Daniel  Welshons. 

Farrier — 

Nathaniel  Simpson. 
Blacksmith — 

James  M.  Blam. 
Saddler— 

Willard  B.  Austin. 
Armorer — 

Peter  Duffey. 

Privates — 

Robert  W.  Adams, 
John  Wesley  Brown, 
John  F.  Blair, 
Rodney  C.  Bean, 
Joachim  Borchert, 
Cyrus  G.  Byers, 
Lemuel  N.  Bradley, 
Philip  Bromler, 
Archibald  Bennett, 
Henry  Bartlett, 
Gary  D.  Chapman, 
John  Carpenter, 
Lewis  Dufrain, 
James  Doyle, 
George  W .  Davidson, 
Henry  H.  French, 
John  Fletcher, 
John  Grubb, 
Dudley  W.  Griswold, 
Abednego  Gilmore, 


Privates — 


John  C  Gilispie, 
John  Glide  well, 
Frederick  G.  Her, 
James  Johnstone, 
James  Kelsay, 
John  Kraft, 
Charles  H.  Miller, 
Mathew  McCune, 
Sullivan  McKibbon, 
Zebulon  B.  More, 
Jerry  McLaughlin, 
Henry  Neighbours, 
Wallace  Pumphrey, 
William  G.  Root, 
Charles  Root, 
Rafalo  Romero, 
Leonard  Sergeant, 
William  Sage, 
William  J.  Spencer, 
Isaac  M.  Scearce, 
Charles  E.  Sullivan, 
William  H.  Stone, 
Columbus  Tuttle, 
George  Tuttle, 
Myron  Tuttle, 
Nathan  M.  Turk, 
Joshua  Vickroy, 
Samuel  S.  Wills, 
William  Welsnhons, 
Thomas  Ward, 
Charles  M.  Webster, 
Oliver  Wooley, 
Joseph  Allen, 
John  Warren  Brown. 


Roster  of  Company  "M." 


Captain — 

Thomas  Moses. 
First  Lieutenant — 

William  Pierce. 
Second  Lieutenant — 

George  C.  Bowan. 


First  Sergeant — 

Daniel  G.  W.  Whiting. 
Quartermaster  Sergeant — 

William  J.  Lawrence. 
Commissary  Sergeant — 

J.  Fitz.  James  Cooper. 


176 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


Sergeants — 

Charles  Leslie, 
Joseph  Baker, 
Isaac  S.  Freeman, 
James  C.  Whitall, 
John  H.  Sowell. 

Corporals — 

Ferdinand  Sigel, 
George  M.  McDougall, 
William  Linsdale, 
Daniel  T.  Mack, 
Merritt  C.  Foster, 
William  H.  Garlic, 
Austin  W.  Means, 
John  W.  Peterson. 

Buglers — 

John  T.  Sheppard, 
William  Stewart. 

Farriers — 

Henry  Seiffert. 
George  E  Dorman, 

Saddler- 
William  H.  Bobbins, 

Privates — 

William  Clark, 
Charles  Cole, 
Joseph  F.  Cole, 
Clayton  S.  Donihue, 
William  J.  Doneley 
Henry  Day, 
William  F.  Earl, 
Jaques  Fredez, 
John  Fidler, 
John  P.  Frederic, 
Christopher  C.  Fergeson, 
William  P.  Fox, 
William  W.  Frame, 
August  Grenneman, 
.  William  H.  Griffith, 


Privates — 

Francis  Gqpdwin, 
Christopher  L.  Hess, 
William  Hoen, 
William  E.  Hill, 
John  Harress, 
Diego  Hernandez, 
Charles  A.  Henry, 
Joseph  Houghtaling, 
Joseph  Johnson, 
James  Johnson, 
Albert  Kizer, 
John  C.  Kanditer, 
George  W.  Lewis, 
Henry  N.  Lewis, 
James  J.  Ladd, 
William  Laughlin, 
William  H.  H.  Lowe, 
William  Mavis, 
William  Murray, 
Asbury  McKnight, 
William  McDougal, 
David  F.  Needham, 
Joab  B.  North, 
John  A.  Owens, 
Garrett  Perrine, 
Nehemiah  R.  Packard, 
Andrew  P.  Phenning, 
Henry  W.  Pulver, 
John  Quin, 
Louis  Reynolds, 
Benford  Smith, 
Isaiah  B.  Smith, 
Jackson  D.  Slaughter, 
Jesse  C.  Strickland, 
Henry  C.  Scoville, 
William  Sanders, 
John  Thompson, 
Henry  A.  Tage, 
Alec  Wray, 
Lewis  M.  Watson, 
Robert  Wilkinson. 


SECOND   COLORADOS. 


177 


TABLE    OF    STATISTICS. 

Alphabetical    List  of   Trades    and   Nationalities 
in  the  Regiment. 


Accountants 2 

Actors 3 

Artists 3 

Ambrotypist 1 

Apothecary 1 

Brewer 1 

Butchers 9 

Brick-makers 2 

Bakers 7 

Barber 1 

Boatmen 11 

Book-keeper 1 

Blacksmiths 25 

Builder 1 

Cabinet-maker 1 

Carpenters 35 

Cooks 3 

Contractor 1 

Clerks 16 

Collier , .  1 

Coopers G 

Drummers 3 

Druggists 5 

Drover 1 

Dentists -. . . .  2 

Dancing  Master 1 

Engineers 15 

Engravers 2 

Florists 2 

Freighters 2 

Farmers  235 

Glove-maker 1 

Gunsmiths 10 

Hostler 1 

Harness-makers 2 

Hunters    2 

Joiners 4 

Locksmith 1 

Lawyers 9 


Laborers 73 

Masons 9 

Merchants 9 

Machinists 4 

Music  Teacher 1 

Millers 9 

Moulders    3 

Millwrights 9 

Mechanics 15 

Musicians 8 

Miners 462 

Newsdealer 1 

Physicians 6 

Pilots 2 

Printers 17 

Plumber 1 

Plasterers 7 

Ranch  men 7 

Silversmith 1 

Stone  Cutters 3 

Stone  Masons 5 

Salesmen 2 

Sailors 9 

Ship  Carpenter 1 

Shoe-makers 14 

Soldiers 8 

Servant 1 

Stage  Drivers 3 

Tinker 1 

Traders 2 

Turners 5 

Tailors 4 

Teamsters 35 

Upholsterers 3 

Veterinary  Surgeon 1 

Wagon-makers 2 

Watch-maker 1 

Waggoner 1 


178 


THE  SECOND  COLORADOS. 


NATIONALITIES. 


United  States. 

Maine 32 

New  Hampshire 10 

Vermont 31 

Massachusetts 26 

Rhode  Island 4 

Connecticut 17 

New  York 163 

New  Jersey 17 

Pennsylvania 110 

Delaware 2 

Maryland 10 

Virginia 23 

North  Carolina 4 

South  Carolina 2 

Alabama 2 

Ohio 202 

Kentucky 38 

Missouri 46 

Indiana 31 

Illinois 65 

Michigan 16 

Iowa 15 

Wisconsin 6 

Minnesota 1 

Tennessee . .  .19 


Other  Countries. 

New  Mexico 22 

Cherokee  Nation 1 

Choctaw  Nation 1 

Canada 32 

England 36 

Ireland 63 

Scotland.. 15 

Wales 2 

Australia 1 

Prussia 7 

Germany 42 

Poland 4 

Denmark 1 

Sweden 5 

Russia 1 

Norway 4 

France 7 

Bohemia 1 

Saxony 2 

Holland 2 

Bavaria 1 

Switzerland 1 

Born  at  Sea 3 

Nationality  Unknown 1 


